Henry II (fr. Henri II, March 31, 1519, Saint-Germain Palace - July 10, 1559, Tournel Hotel, Paris) - King of France from March 31, 1547, the second son of Francis I from his marriage to Claude, daughter of Louis XII, from the Angouleme line the Valois dynasty.
heir to the throne
At birth, he received the title of Duke of Orleans. In 1526-1529. Henry was with his elder brother Francis, instead of his father, at the court of King Charles V of Spain as a hostage. In 1533 Henry married Catherine de Medici. In 1536 he became heir to the throne, Dauphin and Duke of Brittany after the death of his older brother.
Reign
During his reign, he pursued with fire and sword the growing Protestantism in the country. He continued the war with England after the death of his father and ended it in 1550 with the return of Boulogne.
Death
In celebration of his daughter's wedding and the conclusion of the Treaty of Cato-Cambresia, Henry arranged a 3-day jousting tournament. On the second day in the evening, Henry entered into battle with the Earl of Montgomery, and the Earl's spear broke on the enemy's shell; fragments of the spear pierced the forehead of the king and also hit the eye. A few days later, on July 10, 1559, Henry died from this wound, despite the help of the best doctors of the time, including the anatomist Vesalius. Against his will, before his death, he did not manage to see his favorite, Diane de Poitiers.
The quatrain of Nostradamus, which deals with the death of the "old lion" in a duel with the "young one" who "gouges out his eyes", later gained fame as a prediction of the death of Henry II, moreover, which came true during the life of Nostradamus. However, neither Nostradamus himself nor his contemporaries associated the quatrain with this event.
Catherine de Medici (fr. Catherine de Médicis) or Catherine Maria Romola di Lorenzo de Medici (Italian Caterina Maria Romola di Lorenzo de "Medici) (April 13, 1519, Florence - January 5, 1589, Blois), queen and regent of France, Henry's wife II, King of France from the Angouleme line of the Valois dynasty.
Childhood
Catherine's parents - Lorenzo II, di Piero, de Medici, Duke of Urbinsky (September 12, 1492 - May 4, 1519) and Madeleine de la Tour, Countess of Auvergne (c. 1500 - April 28, 1519) were married as a sign of union between the King of France, Francis I and Pope Leo X, Lorenzo's uncle, against Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg.
The young couple were very happy about the birth of their daughter, according to the chronicler, they "were just as pleased as if it were a son." But, unfortunately, their joy was not destined to last long: Catherine's parents died in the first month of her life - her mother on the 15th day after birth (at the age of nineteen), and her father survived his wife by only six days, leaving the newborn as a legacy Duchy of Urbino and County of Auvergne. After that, her grandmother Alfonsina Orsini took care of the newborn until her death in 1520.
Wedding
At the age of 14, Catherine became the bride of the French Prince Heinrich de Valois, the future King of France, Henry II. Her dowry amounted to 130,000 ducats and extensive possessions, including Pisa, Livorno and Parma.
Catherine could not be called beautiful. At the time of her arrival in Rome, one Venetian ambassador described her as "red-haired, short and thin, but with expressive eyes" - a typical appearance of the Medici family. But Catherine was able to impress the spoiled luxury, sophisticated French court, turning to the help of one of the most famous Florentine craftsmen, who made high-heeled shoes for the young bride. Her appearance at the French court caused a sensation. The wedding, held in Marseilles on October 28, 1533, was a great event, marked by extravagance and the distribution of gifts. Europe has not seen such an accumulation of higher clergy for a long time. The ceremony was attended by Pope Clement VII himself, accompanied by many cardinals. The fourteen-year-old couple left the celebration at midnight to carry out their wedding duties. After the wedding, 34 days of continuous feasts and balls followed. At the wedding feast, Italian chefs first introduced the French court to a new dessert made from fruit and ice - it was the first ice cream.
Birth of children
The birth of an illegitimate child in 1537 by her husband confirmed the rumors about Catherine's infertility. Many advised the king to annul the marriage. Under the pressure of her husband, who wanted to consolidate her position by the birth of an heir, Catherine was treated for a long time and in vain by all kinds of magicians and healers with the sole purpose of becoming pregnant. Every possible means for successful conception was used, including drinking mule urine and wearing cow dung and antlers on the lower abdomen.
Finally, on January 20, 1544, Catherine gave birth to a son. The boy was named Francis in honor of the ruling king (he even shed tears of happiness when he learned about it). After her first pregnancy, Catherine seemed to have no more problems conceiving. With the birth of several more heirs, Catherine strengthened her position at the French court.
A sudden miraculous cure for infertility is associated with the famous doctor, alchemist, astrologer and soothsayer Michel Nostradamus - one of the few who was part of Catherine's close circle of confidants.
Heinrich often played with children and was even present at their birth. In 1556, during the next birth, Catherine was saved from death by surgeons, breaking off the legs of one of the twins, Jeanne, who lay dead in the womb for six hours. However, the second girl, Victoria, was destined to live only six weeks. In connection with these births, which were very difficult and almost caused the death of Catherine, the doctors advised the royal couple to no longer think about the birth of new children; after this advice, Henry stopped visiting his wife's bedroom, spending all his free time with his favorite, Diane de Poitiers.
Family and Children
Henry II had 10 children from his marriage to Catherine de Medici, including:
1. Francis II (1544-1560), King of France from 1559
2. Elizabeth (1545-1568). She was first engaged to the Spanish heir to the throne, Don Carlos, but then married to his father, Philip II. This complex collision served as the basis for many famous works, including Schiller's drama and Verdi's opera Don Carlos.
3. Claude (1547-1575), wife of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine.
4. Charles IX (1550-1574), King of France from 1560
5. Henry III (1551-1589), King of Poland in 1573-1574 and King of France from 1574.
6. Margarita (1553-1615), "Queen Margot", since 1572 the wife of the leader of the French Protestants of the future Henry IV. Their wedding was the prelude to Bartholomew's night. Divorced 1599
7. Francis (1554-1584), Duke of Alencon, then of Anjou. His sudden death meant the extinction of the Valois dynasty.
8. Victoria (died at the age of a month) and the stillborn Jeanne (1556) - twin sisters, the last children of Catherine de Medici; after a difficult birth that almost cost her her life, the doctors forbade her to have children.
Queen of France
On March 31, 1547, Francis I died and Henry II ascended the throne. Catherine became Queen of France. The coronation took place in the Basilica of Saint-Denis in June 1549.
During the reign of her wife, Catherine had only minimal influence on the administration of the kingdom. Even in Henry's absence, her power was very limited. In early April 1559, Henry II signed the Treaty of Cateau Cambresi, ending the long wars between France, Italy and England. The agreement was reinforced by the engagement of the fourteen-year-old daughter of Catherine and Henry, Princess Elizabeth, to the thirty-two-year-old Philip II of Spain.
Death of Henry II
Challenging the prediction of the astrologer Luka Goriko, who advised him to refrain from tournaments, drawing attention to the forty-year-old age of the king, Henry decided to participate in the competition. On June 30 or July 1, 1559, he participated in a duel with the lieutenant of his Scottish guard, Earl Gabriel de Montgomery. Montgomery's splintered spear passed through the slit of the king's helmet. Through Henry's eye, the tree entered the brain, mortally wounding the monarch. The king was taken to the Chateau de Tournelle, where the rest of the fragments of the ill-fated spear were removed from his face. The best doctors in the kingdom fought for Henry's life. Catherine was at the bedside of her husband all the time, and Diana did not appear, probably from fear of being sent away by the queen. From time to time, Heinrich even felt well enough to dictate letters and listen to music, but he soon became blind and lost his speech.
Black queen
On July 10, 1559, Henry II died. From that day on, Catherine chose as her emblem a broken spear with the inscription “Lacrymae hinc, hinc dolor” (“from this all my tears and my pain”) and until the end of her days she wore black clothes as a sign of mourning. She was the first to wear black mourning. Before that, in medieval France, mourning was white.
Despite everything, Catherine adored her husband. “I loved him so much…” she wrote to her daughter Elizabeth after Heinrich's death. Catherine de Medici wore mourning for her husband for thirty years and entered the history of France under the name "Black Queen".
Regency
Her eldest son, fifteen-year-old Francis II, became the King of France. Catherine took up state affairs, made political decisions, exercised control over the Royal Council. However, Catherine never ruled the entire country, which was in chaos and on the brink of civil war. In many parts of France, local nobles actually dominated. The complex tasks that Catherine faced were confusing and to some extent difficult for her to understand. She called on religious leaders on both sides to engage in dialogue to resolve their doctrinal differences. Despite her optimism, the Poissy Conference ended in failure on October 13, 1561, dissolving itself without the queen's permission. Catherine's point of view on religious problems was naive, because she saw the religious schism in a political perspective. "She underestimated the power of religious persuasion, imagining that everything would be fine if only she could get both sides to agree."
queen mother
Charles IX
August 17, 1563 the second son of Catherine de Medici - Charles IX - was declared an adult. He was never able to govern the state on his own and showed a minimum of interest in state affairs. Carl was also prone to tantrums, which eventually turned into outbursts of rage. He suffered from shortness of breath, a symptom of tuberculosis, which eventually brought him to his grave.
Dynastic marriages
Through dynastic marriages, Catherine sought to expand and strengthen the interests of the House of Valois. In 1570, Charles was married to the daughter of Emperor Maximilian II, Elizabeth. Catherine tried to marry one of her younger sons to Elizabeth of England.
She did not forget about her youngest daughter Margarita, whom she saw as the bride of the again widowed Philip II of Spain. However, soon Catherine had plans to unite the Bourbons and Valois through the marriage of Margarita and Henry of Navarre. Marguerite, however, encouraged the attention of Heinrich de Guise, son of the late Duke François de Guise. When Catherine and Karl found out about this, Margarita received a good beating.
The escaped Heinrich de Guise hastily married Catherine of Cleves, which restored the favor of the French court to him. Perhaps it was this incident that caused the split between Catherine and Guise.
Between 1571 and 1573, Catherine stubbornly tried to win over the mother of Henry of Navarre, Queen Jeanne. When, in another letter, Catherine expressed a desire to see her children, while promising not to harm them, Jeanne d'Albret replied: “Forgive me if, reading this, I want to laugh, because you want to free me from fear, which I never had. I never thought about what they say you eat small children. In the end, Joan agreed to a marriage between her son Henry and Marguerite on the condition that Henry would continue to adhere to the Huguenot faith. Shortly after arriving in Paris to prepare for the wedding, the forty-four-year-old Jeanne fell ill and died.
Catherine was accused of killing Jeanne with poisoned gloves. The wedding of Henry of Navarre and Marguerite of Valois took place on August 18, 1572 at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Three days later, one of the leaders of the Huguenots, Admiral Gaspard Coligny, on the way from the Louvre, was wounded in the arm by a shot from the window of a nearby building. The smoking arquebus was left in the window, but the shooter managed to escape. Coligny was taken to his quarters, where surgeon Ambroise Pare removed the bullet from his elbow and amputated one of his fingers. Catherine was said to have reacted to this incident without emotion. She visited Coligny and, with tears in her eyes, promised to find and punish her assailant. Many historians have blamed Catherine for the attack on Coligny. Others point to the de Guise family, or to a Spanish-papal conspiracy to end Coligny's influence over the king.
Bartholomew night
The name of Catherine de Medici is associated with one of the bloodiest events in the history of France - St. Bartholomew's Night. The massacre, which began two days later, stained Catherine's reputation indelibly. There is no doubt that it was she who was behind the decision on August 23, when Charles IX ordered: "Then kill them all, kill them all!"
The train of thought was clear, Catherine and her advisers expected a Huguenot uprising after the assassination attempt on Coligny, so they decided to strike first and destroy the Huguenot leaders who had come to Paris for the wedding of Marguerite of Valois and Henry of Navarre. The massacre of Bartholomew began with the first hours of August 24, 1572.
The king's guards broke into Coligny's bedroom, killed him and threw the body out of the window. At the same time, the sounding of the church bell was a conventional sign for the beginning of the murders of the Huguenot leaders, most of whom died in their own beds. The king's newly minted son-in-law, Henry of Navarre, was faced with a choice between death, life imprisonment, and conversion to Catholicism. He decided to become a Catholic, after which he was asked to stay in the room for his own safety. All the Huguenots inside and outside the Louvre were killed, and those who managed to escape into the street were shot dead by the royal riflemen who were waiting for them. The massacre of Paris continued for nearly a week, spreading through many provinces of France, where indiscriminate killings continued. According to historian Jules Michel, "St. Bartholomew's Night was not a night, but a whole season." This massacre delighted Catholic Europe, Catherine enjoyed the praise. On September 29, when Henry of Bourbon knelt before the altar like a respectable Catholic, she turned to the ambassadors and laughed. Since that time, the “black legend” about Catherine, the evil Italian queen, has its origins.
Bartholomew's Night (on the night of 24 August 1572) (c) Édouard Debat-Ponsan. 1880
Catherine was branded by Huguenot writers as a wily Italian who followed Machiavelli's advice to "kill all enemies with one blow". Despite accusations by contemporaries of planning the massacre, some historians do not fully agree with this. There is no hard evidence that the killings were pre-planned. Many see this massacre as a "surgical strike" that got out of control. Whatever the reasons for the bloodshed that quickly got out of control, Catherine and anyone else, the historian Nicola Sutherland called the St. Bartholomew night in Paris and its subsequent development "one of the most controversial events in modern history."
Kings and Emperors of France (987-1870)
Bourbons (1589-1792)
Henry IV - Louis XIII - Louis XIV - Louis XV - Louis XVI -
Napoleon I (First Empire, Bonapartes) - Louis XVIII (Restoration, Bourbons) - Charles X (Restoration, Bourbons) - Louis Philippe I (July Monarchy, House of Orleans) - Napoleon III (Second Empire, Bonapartes)
29th King of France
Henry IV of Bourbon (Henry of Navarre, Henry the Great, fr. Henri IV, Henri le Grand, Henri de Navarre; December 13, 1553, Pau, Bearn - killed May 14, 1610, Paris) - Huguenot leader at the end of the Wars of Religion in France, King of Navarre from 1572 (as Henry III), King of France from 1589, founder of the French royal Bourbon dynasty.
The accession of Henry IV to the throne was ordered by Henry III, who, being mortally wounded, ordered his supporters to swear allegiance to the Navarrese monarch, but he could only become king of France after a long struggle. In order to neutralize his rivals, on July 25, 1593, Henry of Navarre converted to Catholicism and entered Paris on March 22, 1594 (on this occasion, Henry IV is credited with the saying “Paris is worth a mass”). In 1595, the Pope granted Henry a pardon, removing his excommunication from the church and the proclamation of a heretic. To end interfaith strife, Henry IV signed the Edict of Nantes on April 13, 1598, which granted freedom of religion to Protestants, shortly after that the Huguenot wars ended.
The activities of Henry IV, who strove for the welfare and peace of his subjects, largely corresponded to the needs of the people, in whose memory Henry of Navarre remained as le bon roi Henri - "Good King Henri." ("Once upon a time there was Henry the Fourth")
Family
* 1st wife: (August 18, 1572, divorced 1599) Marguerite of France, known as Queen Margot (1553-1615), Queen of Navarre. There were no children.
* 2nd wife: (December 17, 1600) Marie de Medici (1572-1642), Queen of France. Had 6 children:
The heir to the throne is Louis XIII the Just (1601-1643), King of France.
In addition, Henry IV had 11 recognized illegitimate children, of which the most famous is César de Bourbon (1594-1665), duc de Vendôme and de Beaufort, who laid the foundation for a side line.
Marguerite de Valois
Marguerite was the youngest, third daughter and seventh child of the French King Henry II and Catherine de Medici. The French throne was successively occupied by her brothers Francis II (1559-1560), Charles IX (1560-1574) and Henry III (1574-1589).
From childhood, the girl was distinguished by charm, independent disposition and a sharp mind, and she received an excellent education: she knew Latin, Greek, philosophy and literature, and she herself had a good command of the pen.
From early childhood, Margarita's hand was the subject of bargaining: first, she was offered as a wife to Henry de Bourbon, Prince of Bearn and heir to the kingdom of Navarre, then to Don Carlos, son of Philip II of Spain, then to the Portuguese king Sebastian. However, the implacable position of the French court in the negotiations and rumors about the behavior of Margarita led to the failure of both the Spanish and Portuguese negotiations. For political reasons, Charles IX and Catherine de' Medici resumed negotiations for the marriage of Marguerite and Henry de Bourbon.
In 1570, her stormy romance begins with the Duke of Guise, the de facto head of the Catholics of France and later a contender for the throne, but King Charles IX and Catherine de Medici forbade her to think about this marriage, which would strengthen Guise and upset the balance between Catholics and Protestants. Apparently, Guise and Margarita retained feelings for each other until the end of their lives, which is confirmed by the queen's secret correspondence.
In order to consolidate the next ephemeral peace between the Catholics and the Huguenots (Protestants) of France, on August 18, 1572, Margarita was married to one of the leaders of the Huguenots, Henry de Bourbon, King of Navarre, his second cousin, Prince of the Blood. Her wedding, celebrated with great pomp, ended with St. Bartholomew's Night, or "Paris bloody wedding" (August 24). Apparently, Catherine de Medici kept her daughter in complete ignorance of the impending massacre in the Louvre and even counted on her death in order to gain additional argument in the fight against the Huguenots and their leaders. Miraculously surviving during the beating and maintaining her composure, Margarita saved the lives of several Huguenot nobles and, most importantly, her husband, Henry of Navarre, refusing to file a divorce with him, as her relatives insisted.
After the accession to the throne of Henry IV, Pope Clement VIII annulled his childless marriage to Margaret (December 30, 1599).
The list of favorites of the kings of France offered here is more a list of royal adventures than a list of official favorites of French kings. Although from the end of the Middle Ages to the French Revolution, it was common for French kings, connected by political marriages, from time to time to have one or more ladies with the official rank of royal favorite. Many of them, such as Madame de Pompadour, had great influence on the life of the royal court or on the king himself, like Diane de Poitiers on Henry II or Gabriel d'Estre on Henry IV. Louis XIV even married one of his mistresses - Madame de Maintenon.
Not always women, for whom the kings burned with passionate love, were elevated to the rank of official favorites. This title was rarely used. French kings, especially distinguished by the number and degree of influence of their favorites, are Henry IV, Louis XIV and Louis XV.
In 58 BC Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, which became part of the Roman Empire and became one of its provinces. The Gauls began to be called Gallo-Romans.
They quickly adopted the highly developed culture of the Romans: they borrowed the Latin language, from which French later developed, built the same houses and roads as the Romans, and the Gauls decorated their cities with exactly the same statues as in Rome.But peace in the land of Gaul was restored for a short time. Soon began the invasion of numerous barbarian tribes from the east. And for long, long years, the Gauls had to fight either with the Alamans, or with the Franks, or with the Visigoths. This era is called: "The era of the great invasions." The most terrible of them was the invasion of the Huns, who came from somewhere in the depths of Asia. The leader of the Huns, Attila, was nicknamed "the scourge of God", and it was said that the grass no longer grew where he passed.
To drive out the Huns, and, somewhat later, the Alamanians, the Gallo-Romans allied themselves with the Franks, who lived in what is now Belgium. It was thanks to the name of this people that the Frankish state appeared, which later became known as France. In 481, Clovis became the king of this state - one of the first Merovingians, who is considered the founder of France. The dynasty was named after the mythical king Merovei, to whom, allegedly, Clovis was a grandson. Clovis was a wise ruler and a brave warrior.
In addition, Clovis became the first king of the Frankish state to convert to Christianity. That's how it was. At that time, the Franks were at war with the Alamani, but without much success. One day, during a decisive battle with the enemy, when the offensive of the Alamani was especially fierce, and it seemed that nothing could save the Franks from complete defeat, Clovis remembered how his wife Clotilde told him about the Savior, about the Christian faith ... And right on the battlefield, Clovis pleaded: “Oh, merciful Jesus! I asked my gods for help, but they turned away from me. Now I think that they simply cannot help me. Now I ask you: help me cope with my enemies! I believe you!" As soon as he spoke the last words, the Franks hit the enemy with particular success, and the Alamani were thrown into a panicked retreat. The conversion to the Christian faith of Clovis took place in Reims in 496. Since then, all the kings of France have been baptized in this city.
Clovis left after his death a huge, at that time, state, which was three times larger than its "ancestor" - Gaul. According to the custom of the Franks, the kingdom was divided between the heirs of Clovis: Thierry, Clodomir, Sigebert and Chlothar. Each of them chose their capital: Reims, Orleans, Paris and Soissons. However, the descendants of Clovis were never able to kindly divide the kingdom, and internecine wars shook the Merovingian state for another 250 years, weakening it. The former power was restored with the unification of the monarchy, which took place during the reign of kings Dagobert and Childeric II at the beginning of the 7th century.
The state is developing. Soon the kingdom of the Franks becomes the most powerful European power. The influence of the Christian Church is growing. And most importantly, an aristocracy is being born, which becomes a real chosen caste of warriors. The king can no longer ignore the power of the aristocracy - he generously appeases the nobility, distributing vast lands to them. This is how majordomes appear - "mayors of palaces" - formerly ordinary courtiers, and now - the main advisers to the king. It was they who were the cause of the decline of the Merovingian era.
After the death of Childeric II, power actually passed into the hands of the majordomes, although the descendants of Merovei also sat on the throne. However, they were completely unable to govern the state, spending all their time in the palace and tired of entertainment. For this they were called "lazy kings". The last of the Merovingians was King Childeric III.
And the dexterous majordomo gradually strengthened their power, and one day Pepin the Short ascended the throne of the Frankish kingdom, laying the foundation for a new royal dynasty - the Carolingians.
Carolingians.
So, the "lazy kings" - the last descendants of the once great family of the Merovingians - gradually, without a struggle, ceded power to their ministers - majordomo. And now a new king Pepin the Short appeared on the throne of the Frankish state. It was in 751. Thus began a new era in the history of France - the era of the reign of the Carolingians. But even before the new dynasty came to power, one of the Carolingians did more for France than all the "lazy kings" put together. We are talking about the father of Pepin the Short - Charles Martel. He received his formidable nickname (and Martell means "hammer" in translation) for the heroic battle with the Arabs at Poitiers in 732. It was he who, being the commander of King Chlothar VI, led his soldiers into battle and won a brilliant victory. The Arabs fled, and their emir Abd-el-Raman was killed in battle.
The son of Charles Martell, Pepin, called the Short because of his size, was like his father a brave soldier, but many found that a man of such small stature could not be their king. Once Pepin ordered to bring a huge bull and a ferocious lion. The lion grabbed the bull by the neck. Pepin said to those who laughed at him:
- Go and free the bull or kill the lion.
But no one dared to even approach the ferocious animals. And Pepin drew his sword, and with one blow cut off the heads of both the lion and the bull.
- Well, I can be your king and command you?
Hearing these words, those who mocked him fell to their knees. So Pepin became king, succeeding the last of the Merovingians, Childeric III, on the throne.
Pepin was not only a real brave man, but also a skillful politician. He strongly supported the Catholic Church and readily responded to the requests of the Pope, if he asked for military assistance. In gratitude, the pope blessed Pepin's ascension to the throne and, under pain of excommunication, forbade "to elect a king from any other kind." So the Carolingian dynasty grew stronger, relying on the support of the church.
However, the Carolingian dynasty does not owe its name to Pepin.
The son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada, or Bertha, as she was called in epic tales, became not only the king of France, but also the first emperor, for which he was called Charlemagne. In addition, the very name of the state - France - appears in the era of the reign of Charlemagne.
After the death of Pepin, according to the Frankish custom, his two sons - Charles and Carloman divided the lands of the kingdom. However, Carloman dies, and Carl loses his possessions.
Karl was not called the Great for nothing. From an early age he was accustomed to royal life: he was engaged in physical exercises, horseback riding, hunting, swimming. Learned monks told him biblical stories and taught moral lessons on the example of the Gospel. Karl often had to go to church, attend liturgies. His father, Pepin the Short, from an early age taught the prince to politics, to lead the country and simply taught human relations. Karl was very inquisitive. The best scientists and grammarians of that time were his teachers. In addition to his native language, the Germanic dialect spoken by the Franks, Karl also knew both classical Latin and vernacular Latin, from which French later took shape. He perfectly understood the importance of education for the development of the state, and therefore not only never stopped learning himself, but also did a lot to make knowledge accessible to everyone. So, in 789, Charles orders the opening of schools so that "children can learn to read." According to contemporaries, the king himself often sat in the classroom, trying "to draw letters, but since he was no longer a child, the results were mediocre."
Charlemagne continued the unification of France. He created a real administrative system, dividing the country into regions and appointing his deputies, who monitored the execution of the will of the king. Under Charlemagne, France turned into a real empire, which included virtually the entire territory of Western Europe: in 774, at the invitation of the Pope, he occupied Lombardy and annexed it to his state, suppressed the uprising of the Saxons in the north and became the full owner of this area, and in 796 he defeats the Avars - the descendants of the legendary Huns, which allows the state to expand to the east. In 800, Charles was proclaimed emperor.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Louis I the Pious. Thus the Frankish custom of dividing the kingdom among all the sons was forgotten, and from then on the eldest son became king. The constant quarrels between the grandchildren of Charlemagne in the struggle for the imperial crown weakened the empire, and, in the end, led to its collapse. The Vikings took advantage of the weakening of royal power in France. On their small boats with a flat bottom - drakkars - they could successfully swim not only in the sea, but also in rivers. In 843 they went up the Seine and occupied Paris. Charles the Bald - the then king of France pays off the Vikings, and they leave France.
However, this was not the last invasion of the Vikings. In 885, their army of twenty thousand again approached Paris on 700 Drakkars. Earl Ed was the commander of the garrison of the city's defenders. The Vikings lifted the siege only a year later - they were never able to conquer Paris a second time. The nobility, dissatisfied with the rule of Karl the Tolstoy, elects Ed as king. Who knew that this brave count would be the founder of a new royal dynasty? Yes, the Carolingian dynasty was shaken, but they still ruled until 987. The last of them was Louis V. And on July 3, the nobility elects a new king - Hugo Capet, who gave the name to the new dynasty of French kings - the Capetians.
Capetians.
After the death of the last of the Carolingians, Louis V, Abbot Hugh was chosen as king, who was nicknamed Capet because he wore the mantle of a secular priest, which was called "kapa". It was Hugh Capet who gave the name to the largest royal dynasty of France, whose descendants ruled the country for many centuries.Under the Capetians, feudal relations began to take shape in France - seigneurs and vassals appeared. The vassal swore loyalty and devotion to his lord.
In turn, the seigneur was obliged to protect and support his vassal. France at that time consisted of small possessions in which seniors were full owners. However, in the state, the king was the chief lord, to whom all the rest had to obey. In fact, royal power at first did not extend beyond the royal domain - the area between Compiègne and Orleans. But Hugo Capet managed, in the end, to unite the entire territory of the state under his command.
Another innovation introduced by Hugh Capet was the inheritance of royal power. So, the place of the first Capet was taken by his eldest son - Robert II. The tradition of succession to royal power contributed to the further unification and strengthening of France.
But the arrival of a new dynasty was marked not only by reforms, but also by new wars. It was under the Capetians that for the first time in history religious wars acquired an unprecedented scale. It all started with the First Crusade. In 1095, on November 26, Pope Urban II convened the most influential representatives of the clergy and nobility in Clermont. He told that the Turks, who had owned Jerusalem since 1078, were oppressing the pilgrims. At that time, knights-errant were called pilgrims. These were the children of wealthy seniors who left their father's castles in search of God or just adventure. Urban II recalled that, in addition, the Holy Sepulcher is located in Jerusalem, and that it is not good for this Christian shrine to be in the hands of Muslims. The Pope urged to go on a campaign to Jerusalem and promised those who save the Holy Sepulcher remission of all sins.
The Pope's appeal was instantly taken up. And now, in the direction of Jerusalem, the first Europeans with large crosses embroidered on their clothes stretched. The first crusaders were ordinary citizens. Armed with anything, they went to distant Jerusalem under the leadership of Pierre l "Hermite. However, they were utterly defeated by the Turks in 1096 on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. After them went the lords - barons and counts. They were led by the brother of the king himself. After a fierce struggle, they occupied first Constantinople, then Antiochus, and finally the road to Jerusalem was opened. The last crossing was especially difficult - the wells were poisoned, and the crusaders were thirsty. On July 8, 1099, Jerusalem was taken under siege, and on July 15 at 3 pm the defense The city fell, the Holy Sepulcher was "saved" from the Gentiles, and in Jerusalem, Godefroy de Bouillon, Count of Lorraine, was appointed ruler of the region.
After this Crusade, there were seven more - in the XII and XIII centuries. But the first Crusade was more than just a military campaign. It fully embodied all the hopes and aspirations of the wandering knights - pilgrims, and the common people for the first time felt their involvement in the creation of History.
As for the history of France, in the future it is closely connected with the descendants of Hugh Capet, who no longer yielded royal power to anyone. From 987 to 1328, the direct heirs of the Capetians rule - the last of them was Charles IV the Beautiful, then they are replaced by the Capetians of the Valois family (1328-1589) - from Philip VI to Henry III, and in 1589 the first of the Bourbon Capet family ascends the throne - Henry IV. The Bourbons were the last kings in the history of France. The royal Capetian dynasty ends in 1848 with Louis Philippe.
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The government of the French at first was the same as that of all northern peoples: everything was decided at the general meetings of the people, the kings were the leaders of these meetings. This was almost the only government of the French in the first two dynasties before Charles the Simple.
When, during the decline of the Carolingian dynasty, the monarchy was divided and the Kingdom of Arles rose11, and the provinces fell under the rule of vassals almost independent of the crown, the name "Frenchman" became more limited: under Hugh Capet, Robert, Henry and Philip,12 only residents north of Loire. Then there was a great variety of customs and laws in the provinces that remained under the authority of the French crown. Separate lords, having become masters of these provinces, introduced new customs in their new states. Today, the Breton and the Flander have some similarities, despite the difference in their characters, depending on the soil and climate; but at that time there was almost nothing in common between them.
It was only with Francis I that a certain uniformity of manners and customs began to appear: only at that time did the court become an example for the annexed provinces, but on the whole irresistibility in war and lack of discipline have always remained the main features in the character of the nation. Courtesy and courtesy began to distinguish the French under Francis I, but after the death of Francis II, morals hardened. However, even then at court (183) they constantly observed courtesy, which the Germans and the British tried to imitate. Even then, the rest of Europe envied the French and tried to be like them. One of the characters in Shakespeare's comedy says: "If you really try hard, you can become courteous without visiting the French court"13. Text hidden
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GENERAL PROVISIONS AND PURPOSE IFRS No. 12 "ON...
Natalia G. Schroeder. IFRS No. 1 PRESENT...
CHAPTER XVII Peculiarities in the election of the kings of the second dynasty, Charles Montesquieu
October 28, 2010 02:25
From the formula of Pepin's coronation it is clear that Charles and Carloman were also anointed with chrism and blessed, and that the French lords undertook, under pain of interdict and excommunication, never to elect a king from another family.
From the testament of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious, it should be concluded that the Franks elected one of the royal children as king, which fully corresponds to the condition just given. When the imperial dignity passed to another house, the right to vote, which had been limited and conditional, became simple and unconditional, and the old constitution was thus changed.
Feeling the approach of death, Pepin called the spiritual and secular lords in Saint-Denis and divided his kingdom between his two sons - Charles and Carloman. Although the acts of this collection have not come down to us, we find the news of what happened in it in an old historical collection published by Canisius, and in the Annals of Metz, as indicated by Balus. I find here two circumstances that somehow contradict each other: firstly, that Pepin made the division with the consent of his nobles, and, secondly, that he did this by virtue of his parental right. This proves what I have already said, namely, that the right of the people under this dynasty was to elect a king from the royal family. In fact, it was more a right of exclusion than a right of choice.
This peculiar right of choice is confirmed by the monuments of the second dynasty. This also includes the capitulary of Charlemagne on the division of the empire between his three sons, in which, having determined their shares, he says that “if one of the three brothers has a son whom the people want to choose as heir to his father, his uncles will have to obey this” .
This very order is contained in the section made by Louis the Pious between his three sons - Pepin, Louis and Charles - in 837 at the Aachen Congress, and in another section of the same sovereign, made 20 years earlier between Lothair, Pepin and Louis. One can also refer to the oath of Louis the tongue-tied, taken at his coronation in Compiègne. “I, Louis, appointed king by the grace of God and the election of the people, I promise ...” What I said is confirmed by the acts of the congress in Valence, convened in 890 to elect Louis, son of Boson, king of Arles. Louis was elected, and the main reasons for his election were that he came from an imperial family, that Charles the Fat had informed him of the dignity of a king, and that the emperor Arnulf confirmed him in this dignity by the power of his scepter and by sending his envoys to him. The kingdom of Arles, like other kingdoms that seceded from or depended on the empire of Charlemagne, was selective and hereditary. Text hidden
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Diplomacy of the Hundred Years' War
The turning point in the political development of France was the events of the Hundred Years War. In 1328 the Capetian dynasty ended, and a side branch ascended the throne in the person of Philip VI of Valois. The rights to the French throne were also claimed by Edward III, the English grandson of Philip IV through the female line.
An unusually complex diplomatic game began, in which almost all the main forces of Europe at that time were gradually drawn into the pope, the German emperor, the kings of Scotland, Sicilian, Castile, and numerous sovereign princes. On the side of Philip VI were the Pope, the Count of Flanders, whom he helped to deal with the cities that had risen against him, and the King of Scotland; according to the tradition established since the time of Philip IV, the French kings helped the Scottish in their struggle with England. This was one of the invariable trump cards of French diplomacy in its clashes with England. The alliance with Scotland, artfully crafted by Philip the Handsome and so useful to France during the Hundred Years' War, lasted until the 17th century. Edward III, for his part, also launched a whole system of alliances. So, for 300 thousand florins, he attracted to his side the German emperor Louis of Bavaria, who was under excommunication. In the same way, he bought the help of the counts of Holland, Gennegau and Zeeland, the Duke of Brabant, the Count of Guelders, the Margrave of Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz, and a number of other minor princes. The rich and powerful cities of Flanders, embittered against their count and against the French, and interested in obtaining English wool, spoke out in favor of a benevolent neutrality towards Edward III. Subsequently, this neutrality turned into open aid. Then Philip VI announced the confiscation of Guyani. In response, Edward III declared Philip VI a usurper and renewed his claim to the French crown. Attempts at mediation by the pope did not lead to anything: in 1338 hostilities began. Edward III declared himself King of France.
The Hundred Years' War ended in 1453 with the expulsion of the British from France, who, of all their possessions and conquests, had only the important port of Calais. From the trials of this war and the devastation and devastation that accompanied it, France emerged more united and stronger, the first to show the example of those national monarchies that arose at the turn of the Middle Ages and modern times. But by this time, a powerful Burgundian state had grown up on the eastern outskirts of France, the duke of which played a treacherous role in relation to France at the most critical moments of the Hundred Years War. Charles VII, under whom France was liberated from the English invaders, did not yet feel strong enough to fight this eastern neighbor. However, the king was already preparing the system of alliances that was necessary to fight the Burgundian duke and independent princes within France itself. The implementation of this task fell to the lot of his son Louis XI. Text hidden
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Burgundy. Bourgogne
I came across here on one site on an interesting question. What is Burgundy? Vineyards? Modern region? Old province? Grand Duchy of Charles the Bold? Pillar of France at the first Capet? Ancient kingdom? Those. the question, in traditional French style, is immediately asked with an answer. There are many Burgundies, and each person, pronouncing this name, must clearly understand what kind of Burgundy he brings to light.
The first kingdom was founded by the Germanic Burgundian tribe in the 5th century. The capital was Worms, which is now in Germany. This formation was destroyed by the Huns. There is no point in talking about this glorious state here, especially since most of the stories are mythological in color. For those who want to get acquainted with this particular Burgundy, I can advise the Nibelungenlied. The epic is well-known, very common in bookstores, so there will be no problems with reading it.
The surviving Burgundians migrated to Lake Geneva and formed a new kingdom in the territory of modern Savoy and western Switzerland, with its capital in Geneva. Against the backdrop of a declining Empire, the Burgundians, in alliance with the Visigoths, swallowed up the entire Rhone basin. Later, developing success, they expand the kingdom to the north, reaching Dijon. However, in the north they were met by "compatriots" Franks and big troubles. After several wars, Burgundy was annexed in the 6th century to the Frankish Empire, with which it lived until the division of the empire by the grandchildren of Charlemagne.
As you know, this glorious event took place in 843 in the city of Verdun. The empire was divided into three parts. The division of the Frankish Empire is a separate page in history, which is very interesting to get acquainted with. Here we skip it, focusing solely on the results. The eldest son of Louis the Pious, Lothair received the Middle Kingdom (Lorraine, Provence, Italy). The second son, Louis, became the ruler of the Eastern Kingdom (Germany). And the youngest, Karl received the Western Kingdom, i.e. France. At the same time, Burgundy was also divided. The small western part went to Charles (Duchy of Burgundy), and the larger eastern part to Lothair (Kingdom of Burgundy). From that time on, the duchy became one of the foundations of the kingdom of France and was never separated from it again.
The Kingdom of Burgundy was later divided into Upper and Lower. Then they were united in the Kingdom of Arles. Gradually they were attached to the Holy Roman Empire, from where they later migrated in parts to France. Now these parts can be seen in the south-east of France - these are Dauphine, Savoy, Provence. After all the movements, the name of Burgundy in it retained only a small formation in the north, with its capital in Besançon. It was called the county palatine of Burgundy (county in France). Now it is the area of Franche-Comte.
Let's go back to France. The family of Charlemagne gradually fell into decay and powerful vassals began to encroach on the power of the descendants of the great emperor. Count Ed of Paris declared himself the first king. But the Carolingians managed to regain power. Then came the turn of the Burgundians. The second Duke of Burgundy Raoul (Rudolf) becomes King of France. However, the Carolingians regain power again. The third was Robert, Ed's brother. With the same success. And only the grandson of Robert Hugo Capet finally overthrows the old dynasty, in which his brother Ed-Henry of Burgundy greatly helps him.
In 1032, the brother of King Henry I (the same husband of Anna of Russia) Robert receives from his brother the duchy of Burgundy. This dynasty sit on the ducal throne for a long time. They are loyal to the kings (of course they rebelled at times, but without it there was nowhere at that time), they participate in crusades, receive overseas titles, and support the church. Along with the dukes of Aquitaine and Normandy, the counts of Toulouse, Champagne and Flanders are peers of France, i.e. high nobles, equal to the king. After all, it was the peers who chose Hugh Capet as king, as the first among equals. And, starting with Robert, the city of Dijon becomes their capital.
However, dynasties are not eternal, and after the 12th duke, nature said enough was enough. In 1361, King Jean II, nicknamed the Good, the same anti-hero of the Hundred Years War. attaches a draw (escheated) duchy to the crown. And then he gives it to his youngest son Philip. From now on, the second dynasty of dukes (from the Valois family) rules in Burgundy, and it is with her that the true heyday of the Dijon court begins. Four rulers painstakingly collect their state. Dukes Philip II, Jean and Philip III create the prototype of the kingdom from Burgundy, Franche-Comte, Luxembourg, Artois, Hainaut, Brabant, Flanders, Holland, Gelder. This allows the latter to call himself the Grand Duke of the West. In alliance with the British, the Burgundians are at war with France. Science and art flourish in cities. Gold flows like a river. As a result, the son of Philip, Duke Charles the Bold, inherits a state comparable to both France and England. Powerful and authoritative. After all, it was the transition of Burgundy to the side of France that decided the outcome of the Hundred Years War. Duke Charles even captures and holds captive the King of France. At the same time, he allows himself the phrase "I love France so much that I would prefer to have six sovereigns instead of one", which fully reflects his self-esteem. He is ready to be king.
However, what neither he nor his ancestors ever did was to separate themselves from France. Formally, they did not pass this step. And then all this power comes across a new force - the Swiss mercenaries. Mountain shepherds smash a magnificent army to smithereens. Charles the Bold dies in 1477 near Nancy on the spears of harsh Swiss guys. The northern provinces go to the Empire as the property of the daughter of Charles, the wife of the emperor. And Burgundy is added to the crown. Now already a province, and forever.
And then the "region", "wine" and so on. Departments of Côte d'Or, Saone and Loire, Nièvre, Yonne. 31.6 thousand km². 1.61 million people. Let's brother Volgograd. Magny-Cours. Birthplace of Gustave Eiffel and Virginie Razzano. Like all French, the Burgundians are proud of their region. Wines are known all over the world. Flags of Charles the Bold are flying on the houses. Knights converge, as before in tournaments.
But Burgundy the Great fell asleep, giving way to Burgundy the Beautiful. We wish her good sleep. And let it appear in the dreams of the rest of the inhabitants. The way everyone wants to see it. The text is hidden The history of the Franks is reflected in two sources: in the code of customary law - "Salic Truth", which owes its name to this tribe, and in the "History of the Franks" by Bishop Gregory of Tours. Gregory of Tours was either a Gallic or a Roman by birth. King Clovis continued the tradition of Theodoric, who invited noble and learned Romans to his place. Gregory of Tours wrote the "History of the Franks" in the second half of the 6th century, already after the death of Clovis, but based on the living memories of his children, grandchildren, entourage, etc. His descriptions of the royal family, with which he was closely associated, are interesting. Frankish king of the 5th-6th centuries. was still very much like a barbarian. Gregory of Tours writes that Clovis himself and all members of the royal family wore long hair, and this is not accidental. Clovis was an outstanding figure, whose name is associated with all the major events of this period in the life of the Frankish state, which developed rapidly under him. In the 5th century, when the Germanic tribes of the Franks come from behind the Rhine to the West, Clovis conquers, first of all, Romanized Gaul. Only the central part of Gaul, centered in Paris, remained independent, ruled by the Roman magnate Syagrius. Having conquered northern Gaul, Clovis descends south, i.e. goes to Paris. Syagrius could not resist the Franks and fled to the Visigothic king (at that time the Visigothic kingdom was in the south of Gaul). The Visigoth king gives Syagrius to Clovis, who kills him.
Having conquered a large and important territory in the center of Gaul (the Seine-Loire basin), Clovis settles the Franks on it and generously endows them with land. Thus, the center of the future France becomes the territory of continuous settlement of the Franks. By the end of his reign, Clovis had already advanced significantly to the south of Gaul, reaching the Garonne River. Here he had to meet with the Visigoths. Clovis conquers significant territories of the Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse. After the death of Clovis, moving farther south, the Visigoths cross the Pyrenees and form a new state on the territory of the future Spain with the center in Toledo.
Clovis tried to conquer Burgundy, but he failed. Burgundy was conquered by his descendants. Nevertheless, Clovis had a strong influence on the Burgundian kingdom. In the mid 90s. 5th century Clovis accepts Christianity. According to legend, Clovis did not dare to accept Christianity for a long time, until he suffered a major defeat in one of the battles and a threat loomed over his life. Then he took an oath that if he won the battle and remained alive, he would accept Christianity. He won the battle, survived and converted to Christianity. However, there was another reason that forced Clovis to accept Christianity. He had a wife, a Visigothic princess, and she was a Christian, so it may not have been just a battle that threatened the king's life. Together with Clovis, he accepts Christianity and his squad. Gradually converted to Christianity and the lower strata of Frankish society. Text hidden
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Greetings to all lovers of the French language and the history of France! Today we will talk about French dynasties and their coats of arms.
How did the Merovingians turn Gaul into France? What did the Carolingian and Capetian kings give to France? How did the Valois continue the work of their predecessors? How did the Bourbon dynasty strengthen the status of France among other world powers? What emblems accompanied the kings throughout the history of France?
Stay with us, friends, and you will find out how the kings took care of their country, and what France was like under this or that dynasty.
The Merovingians can be called a legendary dynasty. Because the stories about them are shrouded in mystery and interesting, fantastic stories. The Merovingians are descended from the Frankish tribes, from their legendary ancestor Merovei. The main strength of these kings was their long hair. This was their hallmark as well. The Merovingians wore long hair, and, God forbid! - do not cut them!
The Franks believed that the Merovingians had a sacred magical power, which consisted in long hair and was expressed in "royal happiness", which personified the well-being of the entire Frankish people. Such a hairstyle distinguished and separated the monarch from subjects who wore short haircuts, popular in the Roman era and considered a sign of low status. Cutting off hair was the heaviest insult for the king of the Merovingian dynasty. In addition, it meant the loss of the right to exercise power.
The first Merovingian kings ruled the state according to the model of the old Roman Empire. Under the rule of the descendants of Merovei, the kingdom of the Franks prospered. In many ways it can be compared to the high civilization of Byzantium. For the most part, secular literacy under these kings was more common than it was five centuries later. Even kings were literate, considering the rude, uneducated and unlearned monarchs of the Middle Ages. King Clovis
Among the Merovingians, it is worth noting the special attention of Clovis I. This king was distinguished not only by the severity of his reign, but also by the wisdom of his actions. He converted to Christianity and was baptized, and the rest of the Franks followed his example.
The French monarchy owes the Merovingian dynasty the Salic truth (the author of which, according to legend, is Merovei himself) - this was a set of laws by which the country was governed. One of the notable points is that only men can rule the country. In the XIV century, when the question of the transfer of the throne of France to a woman arises, the Salic truth will be brought to the light of God and they will point to the law of succession to the throne. Constable Gaucher de Chatillon will utter the famous phrase that will go down in history: “It is not good to spin lilies!” And indeed, women have never ruled in France (except, perhaps, temporarily, as a regent).
The Merovingians ruled for a long time - from 481 to 751, that is, from the end of the 5th to the middle of the 8th century.
The emblem or coat of arms of the Merovingians was the lily. In the distant 5th century, King Clovis, while still a pagan, along with his army fell into a trap between the Rhine River and the army of the Goths. A yellow marsh iris saved him from imminent defeat. Clovis noticed that thickets of yellow iris stretched almost to the opposite bank - and iris grows only in shallow water - and the king ventured to ford the river. He won the victory and, in gratitude for the salvation, made this golden iris his emblem. Later this image was transformed into a lily and became known as Fleur-de-lys. There is a version that the image of the lily is a variation of the bee depicted on the early coat of arms of the Merovingians. 
royal lily
Les Carolingiens – Carolingians – Carolingian Empire
The last Merovingians lowered their power to their majordomes (something like house rulers). But we must give them their due - they knew how to choose excellent butlers! Here it is worth noting the glorious Charles Martel, who won a number of significant victories in battles with enemies, as well as Pepin the Short, who later became the king of the Franks. 
Pepin Short
At a meeting of noble Franks in Soissons, Pepin asked them: who has the right to be king - the one who only nominally sits on the throne or the one who has real power in his hands? The Franks leaned towards Pepin. As you can see, everything is fair. The last Merovingian, Childeric III, was sent to a monastery, and Pepin became king. He united all of France, from the English Channel to the Mediterranean (before that, under the Merovingians, it was divided into several territories). Pepin can rightfully be considered the founder of the new Carolingian dynasty.
The most significant figure of this dynasty is Charlemagne or Charlemagne, who won a number of significant victories for the Frankish state and founded a vast empire that included the territories of France, Germany, and Italy. Charles not only fought, but also formed his own country (see the Carolingian Renaissance on our website). Oriflamma - golden flame
The son of Charles, Louis the Pious, still managed to keep the empire within its borders, but his grandchildren had already divided it and ruled separately.
The reign of the Carolingian dynasty passed under the sign of the struggle against the Normans. The Normans were northern Viking tribes. The Carolingians strenuously repulsed their raids, either suffering defeat or winning, until, finally, in the 9th century, King Charles III was tired of all this. Karl understands that the Normans can't be easily got rid of unless a final decision is made. He makes an alliance with the leader of the Normans, Rollo, that they stop their raids on France. In exchange for peace of mind, Charles had to marry his daughter to Rollon and give the Normans the northern territory, which would later be called Normandy. And what to do is politics.
The royal lily also dominated the coat of arms of the Carolingians, but Charlemagne went on military campaigns with an oriflamme - a special banner depicting a golden sun on a red field. It was a kind of standard, which was subsequently present in the battles of other French kings.
Les Capétiens - The Capetians - the longest dynasty
Coat of arms of the Capetian dynasty Why? Yes, because the Valois and the Bourbons are branches of the Capetian dynasty, they all come from Hugo Capet, the founder of the dynasty.
Perhaps it is the Capetian dynasty that has the brightest representatives of the royal power in terms of intelligence, wisdom, talent of government and achievements. Here it is worth noting such kings as Hugh Capet himself, who began the development of Paris. Philip II August, Louis IX the Saint, Philip III, Philip IV the Beautiful, who consolidated the state, annexed significant territories to France, strengthened power, developed education and culture. It was under Philip II that France returned its territories, the provinces of Guienne and Aquitaine, which, being in France, belonged to England.
The coat of arms of the Capetians was three golden lilies on a blue field. We can say that it was under the Capetians that the lily was finally established as the coat of arms of France.
Les Valois - Valois - descendants of the Capets
Unfortunately, the reign of the Valois dynasty began with the tragic pages of the Hundred Years War. Edward III of England wrote a letter to the French king Philip VI (the first king from Valois), in which he expressed his claims to the French throne, being the grandson of Philip IV the Handsome. In addition, the English kings were haunted by Guyenne and Aquitaine, which once belonged to England. Of course, this angered the king of France. No one was going to cede the throne to a foreigner. Thus began the Hundred Years War, the history of which turned into a real tragedy for France.
Unfortunately, France won defeat after defeat, and if it were not for Joan of Arc, it is not known how it would have ended. 
Coat of arms of the Valois dynasty
It is worth saying a few words about King Charles V the Wise, who during the war managed to restore order in the country, managed to reduce taxes (this was in that terrible wartime!), Collect and maintain the most powerful library for those times and, in general, normalize the situation in the state. In addition, he fortified Paris by building the Bastille in it, and also introduced the official coat of arms of Paris. Glorious Charles V Wise!
There are many worthy rulers in the Valois dynasty: this is Louis XI, who managed to restore order and develop France after the Hundred Years War; this is Francis I, who significantly raised the level of culture and science in the state.
The emblem of the kings of the Valois dynasty is all the same lilies, but not three, as under the Capetians, but many lilies dotted with a blue field.
Les Bourbons - The Bourbons - the last kings of France
The Bourbon dynasty is also descended from the Capetians and is related to the Valois dynasty. The first representative is King Henry IV or Henry the Great, whose deeds went down in history. He stopped religious strife between Catholics and Protestants, significantly improved the life of the peasants, carried out many necessary and useful reforms in the state. Unfortunately, good rulers are often killed, and that's what happened to this king. He was killed by the Catholic fanatic Ravaillac.
Among the Bourbons, Le Roi-Soleil stands out - Louis XIV, under which France and the French monarchy reached their apogee in development and in brilliant isolation from the background of other European powers.
Louis XVI or Louis the Last, a truly kind king who was a real father to his people, ended his days on the guillotine, where he laid down his life for the country and people.
The coat of arms of the Bourbons is the same golden lilies, but already on a white field (white is the color of the French monarchy), only everything is much more majestic than on the previous coats of arms of the kings. 
Coat of arms of the Bourbon dynasty
The French monarchy is long gone, but the golden royal lily has gone through all the ups and downs of history and has been preserved on the emblems of many cities and provinces.
Dynasties of French Monarchs.
and his heirs laid the foundation Merovingian dynasty- the first French royal dynasty.
The Merovingian dynasty descended from the Sicambri, a tribe of Germanic people commonly known as the "Franks". From the 5th to the 7th centuries, the Merovingians ruled over vast areas of modern France and Germany. The period of their heyday coincides with the period of King Arthur - thus, at whose court the novels about the Holy Grail originated.
At the beginning of the 5th century, the Sicambrian ancestors of the Merovingians crossed the Rhine and moved into Gaul, settling in the areas of modern Belgium and Northern France, in the vicinity of the Ardennes. A century later, this area was named Austrasia. And the "heart" of Austrasia was modern Lorraine.
The first Merovingians ruled according to the model of the old Roman Empire.
Under the rule of the descendants of Merovei, the kingdom of the Franks prospered. In many respects it can be compared with the "high civilization" of Byzantium. Secular literacy under the Merovingians was more widespread than five centuries later. Even the kings were literate, if we take into account the rude, uneducated and unlearned monarchs of the Middle Ages.
The offspring of the Merovingian family were not kings by "coronation". Power was simply transferred to the next king, as by sacred right. He was a ritual figure, a priest-king, he reigned but did not rule. The affairs of management and administration were handled by an official who owned the title of "major".
The most famous of all the Merovingian monarchs was the grandson of Merovei, I , 481-511 years of reign. Under Clovis, the Franks converted to Catholicism, and thanks to Clovis, the Roman Catholic Church began to establish its pre-eminence in Western Europe. The baptism of Clovis marked the birth of a new Roman Empire - a Christian empire and secularly ruled by the Merovingian dynasty. An indissoluble bond was established between church and state, both sides needed each other and united with each other forever. In confirmation of this union, Clovis agreed to a formal baptism in 496 and was baptized at Reims by Saint Remy.
The Church did not make Clovis king at all, she simply recognized this fact and officially entered into an alliance not only with an individual, but with the whole family.
The main line of the Merovingians lost the throne with death Dagobert
II
. Therefore, the murder of Dagobert can be considered a sign of the end of the Merovingian dynasty. 
Power passed into the hands of the mayors. It was the Major who orchestrated the murder of Dagobert - Pepin Herstalsky . And Pepin Geristalsky was replaced by his son - the famous Karl Martell one of the most heroic figures in French history. Under Charles, in the Battle of Poitiers in 732, the Moorish invasion of France was stopped. Karl Martell, being a very strong personality, never seized the throne. He probably considered the throne a kind of religious shrine - and a specific prerogative of the Merovingians. The successors of Charles, who nevertheless seized the throne, resolved this issue by marrying Merovingian princesses.
Son of Charles Martell Pepin III , mayor - a person in whose hands real power is concentrated. Pepin became the crowned king of the Franks.
The Church has invented a ceremony capable of consecrating even the blood of usurpers. This ceremony was called coronation and anointing - in the sense in which these terms were understood throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The ritual of anointing in the past was only a ceremonial - an act of recognition and affirmation. Henceforth, the ritual of anointing took precedence over the blood connection and could "magically" consecrate the blood. Through the ritual of anointing, the church arrogated to itself the right to create kings.
In 754, Pepin III underwent an official anointing ceremony at Pontion. Thus, a start was made the Carolingian dynasty. The name of this dynasty comes from Charles Martel, although he is usually associated with the most famous of the Carolingians - Charlemagne - Charlemagne. In 800, Charlemagne was given the title of Holy Roman Emperor, a title that, thanks to the pact with Clovis, should have remained exclusively with the Merovingians.
With the emergence of the empire of Charlemagne in Europe, a revival begins. Charles was the sole ruler, but under him there was already an assembly resembling a parliament.
At the court of Charlemagne in the city of Aachen, poets and philosophers gathered. Karl demanded that the children of free people go to school, ordered to write a grammar of the Frankish language. He himself could read and write a little.
The empire created by Charlemagne went to his son Louis, nicknamed the Pious, or Good-natured. Louis could not keep what his father had placed in his hands. Having received the crown Louis the Pious he paid much attention to his subjects, the church, he cared about morality and justice.
The strict monk Benedict became the chief state adviser. Louis agreed to solemnly accept the crown from the hands of the Pope, emphasizing his dependence on the holy throne. The empire was justly divided among his three sons.
The sons of Louis fought each other for a long time. As a result of these wars, France, Germany and Italy emerged. The Carolingian dynasty was fragmented, and later the once Merovingian dynasty disappeared.
France was the name given to a small area around Paris that belonged to the king. Other parts of the future great power - Burgundy, Gascony, Provence, Normandy, Navarre - were ruled by counts who did not have a crown, but were sometimes more powerful than the king.
France was ravaged by Norman raids.
Every now and then, the Carolingians, who changed on the throne, could not protect the country, and the French peasants, having lost faith in their rulers, often left with the Normans.
One of the Parisian counts, Robert Strong , defeated the Normans several times. His descendants - Robertides- founded a new royal dynasty. Son of Robert eda was elected king for the fact that, he "surpassed all in beauty, growth, strength and wisdom."
The Carolingians did not want to give in. Charles the Simple, after Ed's death, returned the crown. Ed's son opposed Karl and died in battle. But Ed's grandson, Hugo the Great , led the troops and won the victory. Hugo the Great did not achieve the throne, but remained the most powerful ruler in France. And only his son, , became king. He was nicknamed capet for the monastic hood that he wore because he was the secular head of the monastery of St. Martin. A clever politician, he achieved his goal, skillfully using the church and the disagreements of the enemies. The crown remained for a long time Capetians, the third French dynasty after the Merovingians and Carolingians.
The name of Louis the Pious went down in history as the name of a king who, with his honesty and good character, destroyed the empire created by the labors of Charlemagne. And the nickname of Hugo Capet gave the name of the new royal dynasty of France.
The kings of the Capetian dynasty occupied the French throne for almost four hundred years. Under them, France became a single power, under them a French parliament arose, which was called the Estates General.
The last king of the Capetians - Charles IV Handsome died without an heir. Regent, that is, the ruler of the country (from the Latin "regent" - "ruling"), became the king's cousin Philip , Count of Valois . When a daughter was born to the widow of Charles IV the Beautiful, Philip, with the consent of the representatives of the highest nobility, was declared king. A new dynasty came to power - Valois.
The sister of Charles IV the Handsome - Isabella married the English King Edward. Her son, King Edward III of England, after the death of his uncle, Charles IV the Handsome, believed that he had more rights to the French throne than the new king of France.
Successor of the first king of the Valois dynasty - John, nicknamed the Good received a heavy inheritance from his father. A plague began in the country, the English did not continue the war. A peasant uprising broke out in the country - jacquerie.
Son of John the Good - Charles V brutally crushed the rebellion. With the help of the Pope, he achieved a truce with the British.
The royal throne went to Charles V, and after his death - to the son of Charles V - a twelve-year-old Charles VI . The rulers under him were his relatives - the Dukes of Orleans and Burgundy.
The war of the Duke of Orleans with the Duke of Burgundy split the country into two parties. King Charles VI turned out to be mentally ill. In history, he remained under the nickname Karl the Mad.
King Henry V was a brave, resolute and talented monarch.
After the death of the unfortunate Charles VI the Mad, his wife, Queen Isabella of Bavaria, disowned her son Carla VII . She agreed that the English king Henry V took the throne, and married her eldest daughter to him.
The heir to the throne, Charles VII, fled to the south of the country. English troops, together with the Burgundians, besieged Orleans - the last stronghold of independence
Dynasties of French Monarchs.
and his heirs laid the foundation Merovingian dynasty- the first French royal dynasty.
The Merovingian dynasty descended from the Sicambri, a tribe of Germanic people commonly known as the "Franks". From the 5th to the 7th centuries, the Merovingians ruled over vast areas of modern France and Germany. The period of their heyday coincides with the period of King Arthur - thus, at whose court the novels about the Holy Grail originated.
At the beginning of the 5th century, the Sicambrian ancestors of the Merovingians crossed the Rhine and moved into Gaul, settling in the areas of modern Belgium and Northern France, in the vicinity of the Ardennes. A century later, this area was named Austrasia. And the "heart" of Austrasia was modern Lorraine.
The first Merovingians ruled according to the model of the old Roman Empire.
Under the rule of the descendants of Merovei, the kingdom of the Franks prospered. In many respects it can be compared with the "high civilization" of Byzantium. Secular literacy under the Merovingians was more widespread than five centuries later. Even the kings were literate, if we take into account the rude, uneducated and unlearned monarchs of the Middle Ages.
The offspring of the Merovingian family were not kings by "coronation". Power was simply transferred to the next king, as by sacred right. He was a ritual figure, a priest-king, he reigned but did not rule. The affairs of management and administration were handled by an official who owned the title of "major".
The most famous of all the Merovingian monarchs was the grandson of Merovei, I , 481-511 years of reign. Under Clovis, the Franks converted to Catholicism, and thanks to Clovis, the Roman Catholic Church began to establish its pre-eminence in Western Europe. The baptism of Clovis marked the birth of a new Roman Empire - a Christian empire and secularly ruled by the Merovingian dynasty. An indissoluble bond was established between church and state, both sides needed each other and united with each other forever. In confirmation of this union, Clovis agreed to a formal baptism in 496 and was baptized at Reims by Saint Remy.
The Church did not make Clovis king at all, she simply recognized this fact and officially entered into an alliance not only with an individual, but with the whole family.
The main line of the Merovingians lost the throne with death Dagobert
II
. Therefore, the murder of Dagobert can be considered a sign of the end of the Merovingian dynasty.
Power passed into the hands of the mayors. It was the Major who orchestrated the murder of Dagobert - Pepin Herstalsky . And Pepin Geristalsky was replaced by his son - the famous Karl Martell one of the most heroic figures in French history. Under Charles, in the Battle of Poitiers in 732, the Moorish invasion of France was stopped. Karl Martell, being a very strong personality, never seized the throne. He probably considered the throne a kind of religious shrine - and a specific prerogative of the Merovingians. The successors of Charles, who nevertheless seized the throne, resolved this issue by marrying Merovingian princesses.
Son of Charles Martell Pepin III , mayor - a person in whose hands real power is concentrated. Pepin became the crowned king of the Franks.
The Church has invented a ceremony capable of consecrating even the blood of usurpers. This ceremony was called coronation and anointing - in the sense in which these terms were understood throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The ritual of anointing in the past was only a ceremonial - an act of recognition and affirmation. Henceforth, the ritual of anointing took precedence over the blood connection and could "magically" consecrate the blood. Through the ritual of anointing, the church arrogated to itself the right to create kings.
In 754, Pepin III underwent an official anointing ceremony at Pontion. Thus, a start was made the Carolingian dynasty. The name of this dynasty comes from Charles Martel, although he is usually associated with the most famous of the Carolingians - Charlemagne - Charlemagne. In 800, Charlemagne was given the title of Holy Roman Emperor, a title that, thanks to the pact with Clovis, should have remained exclusively with the Merovingians.
With the emergence of the empire of Charlemagne in Europe, a revival begins. Charles was the sole ruler, but under him there was already an assembly resembling a parliament.
At the court of Charlemagne in the city of Aachen, poets and philosophers gathered. Karl demanded that the children of free people go to school, ordered to write a grammar of the Frankish language. He himself could read and write a little.
The empire created by Charlemagne went to his son Louis, nicknamed the Pious, or Good-natured. Louis could not keep what his father had placed in his hands. Having received the crown Louis the Pious he paid much attention to his subjects, the church, he cared about morality and justice.
The strict monk Benedict became the chief state adviser. Louis agreed to solemnly accept the crown from the hands of the Pope, emphasizing his dependence on the holy throne. The empire was justly divided among his three sons.
The sons of Louis fought each other for a long time. As a result of these wars, France, Germany and Italy emerged. The Carolingian dynasty was fragmented, and later the once Merovingian dynasty disappeared.
France was the name given to a small area around Paris that belonged to the king. Other parts of the future great power - Burgundy, Gascony, Provence, Normandy, Navarre - were ruled by counts who did not have a crown, but were sometimes more powerful than the king.
France was ravaged by Norman raids.
Every now and then, the Carolingians, who changed on the throne, could not protect the country, and the French peasants, having lost faith in their rulers, often left with the Normans.
One of the Parisian counts, Robert Strong , defeated the Normans several times. His descendants - Robertides- founded a new royal dynasty. Son of Robert eda was elected king for the fact that, he "surpassed all in beauty, growth, strength and wisdom."
The Carolingians did not want to give in. Charles the Simple, after Ed's death, returned the crown. Ed's son opposed Karl and died in battle. But Ed's grandson, Hugo the Great , led the troops and won the victory. Hugo the Great did not achieve the throne, but remained the most powerful ruler in France. And only his son, , became king. He was nicknamed capet for the monastic hood that he wore because he was the secular head of the monastery of St. Martin. A clever politician, he achieved his goal, skillfully using the church and the disagreements of the enemies. The crown remained for a long time Capetians, the third French dynasty after the Merovingians and Carolingians.
The name of Louis the Pious went down in history as the name of a king who, with his honesty and good character, destroyed the empire created by the labors of Charlemagne. And the nickname of Hugo Capet gave the name of the new royal dynasty of France.
The kings of the Capetian dynasty occupied the French throne for almost four hundred years. Under them, France became a single power, under them a French parliament arose, which was called the Estates General.
The last king of the Capetians - Charles IV Handsome died without an heir. Regent, that is, the ruler of the country (from the Latin "regent" - "ruling"), became the king's cousin Philip , Count of Valois . When a daughter was born to the widow of Charles IV the Beautiful, Philip, with the consent of the representatives of the highest nobility, was declared king. A new dynasty came to power - Valois.
The sister of Charles IV the Handsome - Isabella married the English King Edward. Her son, King Edward III of England, after the death of his uncle, Charles IV the Handsome, believed that he had more rights to the French throne than the new king of France.
Successor of the first king of the Valois dynasty - John, nicknamed the Good received a heavy inheritance from his father. A plague began in the country, the English did not continue the war. A peasant uprising broke out in the country - jacquerie.
Son of John the Good - Charles V brutally crushed the rebellion. With the help of the Pope, he achieved a truce with the British.
The royal throne went to Charles V, and after his death - to the son of Charles V - a twelve-year-old Charles VI . The rulers under him were his relatives - the Dukes of Orleans and Burgundy.
The war of the Duke of Orleans with the Duke of Burgundy split the country into two parties. King Charles VI turned out to be mentally ill. In history, he remained under the nickname Karl the Mad.
King Henry V was a brave, resolute and talented monarch.
After the death of the unfortunate Charles VI the Mad, his wife, Queen Isabella of Bavaria, disowned her son Carla VII . She agreed that the English king Henry V took the throne, and married her eldest daughter to him.
The heir to the throne, Charles VII, fled to the south of the country. English troops, together with the Burgundians, besieged Orleans - the last stronghold of independence
