1718265

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 21, Ed. 1, Tree #1186, Date of Import: Apr 26, 1999]
Elected King by the great French nobles in 987, Hugh Capet's heirs held
the throne until 1793. Hugh was elected primarily because his small
possessions in teh Ile de France, which included Paris and the
surrounding region, made him no threat to the independence of the
nobles. He and his successors for the next century made no dramatic
efforts to enlarge their royal authority, but they carefully nursed what
advantages they had; the central location of their lands; the title of
king, which commanded a vague prestige; and a close association with the
Church, which gave them an avenue of influence extending beyond their own
territory. They also pursued a remarkably prudent policy of
consolidating control over their own lands, and they had the good luck to
produce sons. For two hundred years the kings crowned their sons during
their own lifetimes and thus built the tradition that the crown was
theirs, not by election, but by hereditary right.[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 19,
Ed. 1, Tree #1362, Date of Import: Apr 26, 1999]
Historical Figures
Rulers of France: Kings, Queens, Presidents
The Capets
Date in bold is year of accession.
987 Hugh Capet, son of Hugh the Great
996 Robert II (the Wise), his son
1031 Henry I, his son
1060 Philip I (the Fair), son
1108 Louis VI (the Fat), son
1137 Louis VII (the Younger), son
1180 Philip II (Augustus), son, crowned at Reims
1223 Louis VIII (the Lion), son
1226 Louis IX, son, crusader; Louis IX (1214-1270) reigned 44 years,
arbitrated disputes with English King Henry III; led crusades, 1248
(captured in Egypt 1250) and 1270, when he died of plague in Tunis.
Canonized 1297 as St. Louis.
1270 Philip III (the Hardy), son
1285 Philip IV (the Fair), son, king at 17
1314 Louis X (the Headstrong), son. His posthumous son, John I, lived
only 7 days
1316 Philip V (the Tall), brother of Louis X
1322 Charles IV (the Fair), brother of Louis X
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