Medieval French Royal History: House of Valois
If you are interested in the former French Royal Family, you certainly have heard
from the Royal House of Valois, which started in 1284 and ended in 1589.
Some royal history
Before the French Royal Family were members of the Royal House of Valois,
another dynasty had lots of power: House of Capet.
From 1270 till 1285 France was ruled by King Philip III. He was a member
of the House of Capet.
King Philippe III of France had left 3 surviving sons (Louis, Philip and Charles)
and a daughter (Isabella). Each son became king but they died young without
male heirs (except Charles), leaving only two daughters who could not
inherit the throne.
Finally in 1328 Philip Count of Valois, the son of Charles, Count of Valois
became the King of France. He was the closest heir in male line and a grandson of
King Philip III.
But there were other candidates of the French throne inter alia:
Joan of Navarre, daughter of King Louis X. She received the Kingdom of
Navarre.
King Edward III of England, son of Isabella of France, daughter and only
surviving child of King Philip IV. Edward claimed to be the heir of the French
throne as a grandson of King Philip IV.
In 1337 this discussion between the Kings of France and England led to the
confiscation of the Duchy of Aquitaine by England and it even led to the
Hundred Years' War!
King Philip IV of France was the father of King John II of France.
King John II of France was the father of inter alia King Charles V of France
and Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.
In 1415 King Henry V of England and a great-grandson of King Edward III
invaded France. This was the start of a huge battle: the Battle of Agincourt.
The Battle of Agincourt meant a loss for the French Royal Family.
In 1482 Mary of Burgundy, the last ruler of Valois-Burgundy died and
their wealth went over through her husband, Maximilian of Austria,
to the Royal House of Habsburg.
In 1483, Charles VIII became the new King of France. He married to
Anne of Brittany but he died without male heirs. The same thing happened to
King Louis XII of France.
King Louis XII of France was succeeded by his cousin and son-in-law:
Francis of Angoulême who became King Francis I of France in 1515.
King Francis I of France was succeeded by his son King Henry II
of France in 1547, who was married to Catherine de' Medici.
Finally their son, King Henry III of France, was the last Valois ruler of
France. The noble family ended in 1589, when he died without male
heirs.
He was succeeded by King Henry IV of France who was a descendant
from the noble House of Bourbon.
Power
Between 1284 and 1589 the noble House of Valois had lots of power.
Members of this dynasty were inter alia:
- Count of Valois;
- King of France;
- Duke of Milan;
- Duke of Orléans;
- Duke of Anjou;
- Duke of Berry;
- Duke of Burgundy;
- Duke of Brittany;
- King of Naples.
All about royal families
For me, and this blog, it is always very interesting, researching the ties
between the various royal and ducal families in Europe (and the world).
Source pictures: Wikipedia
from the Royal House of Valois, which started in 1284 and ended in 1589.
Some royal history
Before the French Royal Family were members of the Royal House of Valois,
another dynasty had lots of power: House of Capet.
From 1270 till 1285 France was ruled by King Philip III. He was a member
of the House of Capet.
King Philippe III of France had left 3 surviving sons (Louis, Philip and Charles)
and a daughter (Isabella). Each son became king but they died young without
male heirs (except Charles), leaving only two daughters who could not
inherit the throne.
Finally in 1328 Philip Count of Valois, the son of Charles, Count of Valois
became the King of France. He was the closest heir in male line and a grandson of
King Philip III.
But there were other candidates of the French throne inter alia:
Joan of Navarre, daughter of King Louis X. She received the Kingdom of
Navarre.
King Edward III of England, son of Isabella of France, daughter and only
surviving child of King Philip IV. Edward claimed to be the heir of the French
throne as a grandson of King Philip IV.
In 1337 this discussion between the Kings of France and England led to the
confiscation of the Duchy of Aquitaine by England and it even led to the
Hundred Years' War!
King Philip IV of France was the father of King John II of France.
King John II of France was the father of inter alia King Charles V of France
and Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.
In 1415 King Henry V of England and a great-grandson of King Edward III
invaded France. This was the start of a huge battle: the Battle of Agincourt.
The Battle of Agincourt meant a loss for the French Royal Family.
In 1482 Mary of Burgundy, the last ruler of Valois-Burgundy died and
their wealth went over through her husband, Maximilian of Austria,
to the Royal House of Habsburg.
In 1483, Charles VIII became the new King of France. He married to
Anne of Brittany but he died without male heirs. The same thing happened to
King Louis XII of France.
King Louis XII of France was succeeded by his cousin and son-in-law:
Francis of Angoulême who became King Francis I of France in 1515.
King Francis I of France was succeeded by his son King Henry II
of France in 1547, who was married to Catherine de' Medici.
Finally their son, King Henry III of France, was the last Valois ruler of
France. The noble family ended in 1589, when he died without male
heirs.
He was succeeded by King Henry IV of France who was a descendant
from the noble House of Bourbon.
Power
Between 1284 and 1589 the noble House of Valois had lots of power.
Members of this dynasty were inter alia:
- Count of Valois;
- King of France;
- Duke of Milan;
- Duke of Orléans;
- Duke of Anjou;
- Duke of Berry;
- Duke of Burgundy;
- Duke of Brittany;
- King of Naples.
All about royal families
For me, and this blog, it is always very interesting, researching the ties
between the various royal and ducal families in Europe (and the world).
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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