House of Valois

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Main articles: France in the Middle Ages and Early Modern France

French Monarchy
Capetian Dynasty
(House of Valois)

Philip VI
Children
   John II
John II
Children
   Charles V
   Louis I of Anjou
   John, Duke of Berry
   Philip the Bold
Charles V
Children
   Charles VI
   Louis, Duke of Orléans
Charles VI
Children
   Isabella of Valois
   Catherine of Valois
   Charles VII
Charles VII
Children
   Louis XI
   Charles, Duke of Berry
Louis XI
Children
   Charles VIII
Charles VIII
French Monarchy-
Capetian Dynasty, House of Valois
(Valois-Orléans branch)

Louis XII
Children
   Claude of France         
   Renée of France         
French Monarchy-
Capetian Dynasty, House of Valois
(Valois-Angoulême branch)

Francis I
Children
   Francis
   Henry II
   Madeleine of Valois
   Charles of Valois
   Margaret of Valois
Henry II
Children
   Francis II
   Elizabeth of Valois
   Claude of Valois
   Louis of Valois
   Charles IX
   Henry III
   Marguerite of Valois
   François, Duke of Anjou
   Joan of Valois
   Victoria of Valois
Francis II
Charles IX
Henry III

The House of Valois was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, succeeding the House of Capet (or 'Direct Capetians') as kings of France from 1328 to 1589. A cadet branch of the family reigned as dukes of Burgundy from 1361 to 1482.

They were descendants of Charles of Valois, the third son of King Philip III and based their claim to be ahead of Edward III of England and Jeanne de Navarre on a reintroduction of the Salic law.

Contents

[edit] Unexpected inheritance

The Capet dynasty had looked secure to anyone both during and after the reign of Philip IV. He had left 3 surviving sons (Louis, Philip and Charles) and a daughter (Isabella). It was therefore even harder to believe that out of these 3 sons (who each became King in turn and died young), none had been able to provide a single surviving male heir to the throne.

When Charles IV died in 1328, the French Succession was thrown wide open.

In 1328 there were 3 reasonable candidates to the throne;

Family tree relating the French and English royal houses at the beginning of the war.
Family tree relating the French and English royal houses at the beginning of the war.

• Jeanne, daughter of Louis X who was now 16 years old. She would become Joan II of Navarre in later years.

Isabella of France, daughter and only surviving child of Philip IV. She was the sister to the previous 3 Kings of France. She had been married to the late King Edward II of England and was the mother of the new King of England Edward III.

• Philip, son of Charles of Valois, who was the closest male heir and grandson of Philip III. Since his father was the brother of the late Philip IV, he was therefore a nephew of Philip IV and the cousin of Louis X, Philip V and Charles IV. Ironically he would be known as 'the fortunate' for his previous slim chance of becoming King.

Under Salic law, which only recognised the male line, the throne would be passed through the male descendants of Charles of Valois. In England, King Edward III heard the news and made his own bid for the crown. His mother was Isabella, the sister of the three previous Kings of France, and as such his claim was very strong (were it not for Salic law). As expected, Edward’s protests fell on deaf ears. It was obvious that no Frenchman would accept an English King as his ruler.

Since diplomacy and negotiation had failed, Edward III would have to back his ideas with force if he was to claim the throne. These events were a key reason for the hundred years war between England and France.

[edit] List of Valois kings of France

[edit] Valois (direct)

[edit] Valois-Orléans

  • Louis XII, the Father of His People 1498-1515, great-grandson of Charles V of France

[edit] Valois-Angoulême

The application of the Salic Law meant that with the extinction of the Valois line on the male side, the Bourbon Dynasty followed as descendants of Louis IX.

[edit] List of Valois kings of Poland

[edit] Other significant titles held by the House of Valois

[edit] Counts and Dukes of Anjou (House of Valois-Anjou)

[edit] Dukes of Burgundy (House of Valois-Burgundy)

[edit] Dukes of Brabant (House of Valois-Burgundy-Brabant)

[edit] Counts of Nevers (House of Valois-Burgundy-Nevers)

[edit] Counts and Dukes of Alençon (House of Valois-Alençon)

[edit] Illegitimate family branches

[edit] Forms of address

Forms of address for Valois kings included "Most Christian Majesty".

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

House of Valois
Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty
Preceded by
House of Capet
Ruling House of France
13281589
Succeeded by
House of Bourbon
Preceded by
Capetian House of Burgundy
Ruling House of the Duchy of Burgundy
13641482
Succeeded by
House of Habsburg


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