Capetian Dynasty

The Capetian dynasty (French: Capétiens) is one of the most important royal dynasties in Europe; includes all descendants of Hugh Capet (c. 938-996), count of Paris, king of the Franks and founder of the lineage.

The current king of Spain and the grand duke of Luxembourg would be the only European monarchs who belong agnatically to the dynasty, both through the Bourbon branch. All other reigning European monarchs also descend from Hugh Capet, but through cognatic means.

History

In more than a thousand years of almost uninterrupted presence on European thrones, representatives of the different branches of the dynasty ruled over several countries:

• Kings of France (888-898, 922-923, 987-1792, 1814-1815, 1815-1848).
• Kings of Spain (1700-1808, 1813-1868, 1874-1931, 1975 - present).
• Kings of Portugal (1139-1580, 1640-1853).
• Emperors of the Latin Empire (1216-1217, 1221-1261).
• Kings of Naples (1266-1442, 1700-1707, 1735-1806).
• Kings of Sicily (1266-1282, 1700-1713, 1735-1815).
• Achaia princes (1278-1289, 1313-1322, 1333-1381, 1383-1386).
• Kings of Navarre (1284-1349, 1700-1841 in Spanish Navarre, 1572-1789 in French Navarre).
• Kings of Hungary (1308-1395).
• Kings of Poland (1370-1399, 1573-1574).
• Kings of Etruria (1801-1807).
• Kings of the Two Sicilies (1815-1860).
• Brazilian Emperors (1822-1889).
• Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1964-present).

Several independent grand duchies, counties and marquisates were added to these crowns:

• Dukes of Burgundy (956-1361, 1363-1482).
• Dukes of Brittany (1212-1345, 1364-1532).
• Counts of Namur (1217-1237, 1429-1482, 1700-1713).
• Counts of Provence (1245-1481).
• Counts of Henaus (1253-1256, 1417-1482, 1700-1713).
• Counts of Burgundy (1329-1382, 1383-1482).
• Counts of Flanders (1383-1482, 1700-1713).
• Duchess of Brabant (1405-1482).
• Duchess of Luxembourg (1412-1415, 1419-1482, 1700-1713).
• Dukes of Lorraine (1431-1473).
• Counts of the Netherlands (1433-1482).
• Duchess of Milan (1700-1713).
• Duchess of Parma (1731-1735, 1748-1802, 1814-1859).
• Duques de Lucca (1817-1847).

Origins

The ancient origins of the Capetians are not very well known. There are two versions. The first makes the Capets a family from the banks of the Rhine River, descended from the Saxons. It was supported in particular by German historians, who sought to show the predominance of the Germanic element. They explain the existence of the first version with the fact that Hugh Capet's mother was Saxon. Most French historians prefer the second, more probable version, which places the Capetian ancestors in the center of modern-day France. A mixed version makes the Capetians descend from the Saxons, but from a population present in Gaul since the barbarian invasions of the V century..

The oldest ancestor known with certainty is Robert the Strong, who died in 866, Marquis of Neustria and founder of the House of Robertina, who distinguished himself in the fight against the Vikings. His eldest son, settled in Paris with the title of count, was elected king of Western France in 887 with the name of Eudes I, for the courage he demonstrated in resisting the attack of the Normans (in Paris between 885-886), after the deposition of Emperor Charles III the Fat. However, pressured by Arnulf of Carinthia, king of Eastern France, who decided to defend the cause of the legitimate heir Charles III the Simple, Eudes had to accept his claims and name him as successor in 898, the year of his death.

Eudes' brother Robert, who succeeded him as Count of Paris, took part in the movement of 921, when part of the Frankish nobility and clergy rose up against Charles the Simple. After defeating Charles, who was driven to Lorraine, Robert was crowned at Reims on June 29, 922. Charles the Simple gathered an army and confronted him in June 923, near Soissons, where Robert was assassinated. Charles was unable to regain the throne and was confined. An assembly of nobles designated Raul, Duke of Burgundy, as his successor. The Carolingians regained the throne for the last time.

Foundation

Robert's son, Hugh the Great (897-956), Duke of France and Count of Paris, was the most powerful nobleman of his time. Although he had the opportunity, he preferred to increase his possessions and his strength rather than take the throne. He was a kind of viceroy, as powerful as the monarch, who prepared the succession for his son Hugo Capet.

Other branches

When Charles IV the Fair (the last son of Philip IV the Fair to be crowned) died in 1328 without leaving a male heir to replace him on the throne, a young branch descended from the Capet, the Valois took control of the kingdom from France. The Valois dynasty started from the younger brother of Philip IV, (Charles Count of Valois), and the first king of this house was the son of Count Charles: Philip VI of Valois. Then there were two other young branches, the Bourbons and then the Orléans, who succeeded each other on the throne. When the last descendant of the branch died without leaving an heir to the throne, the nobles came to review the Capetine dynasty starting with their great and beloved king Saint Louis IX (grandfather of the Iron King), the only canonized French king. Thus, all the kings of France from Hugo Capet to the last, Louis-Philippe I, not counting the Bonaparte emperors, belonged to the Capetian dynasty, giving its official name to the House of France.

List of collateral branches

As mentioned above, the Capetian dynasty, the oldest royal dynasty in Europe, had numerous collateral branches that played an important role on the European continent. Here is a list that describes them:

• Rama Capeto-Valois. Rama founded by Count Carlos de Valois, son of Felipe III of France. His son would reign in France with the name of Philip VI.
• Rama Capeto-Valois-Borgoñona. Rama founded by Philip II of Burgundy the Atrevido, son of John II of France.
• Rama Capeto-Valois-Anjou. Rama founded by Luis I of Anjou, son of John II of France.
• Rama Capeto-Valois-Orleans. Rama founded by Duke Luis de Valois, son of Carlos V of France. His grandson would reign in France with the name of Louis XII.
• Rama Capeto-Valois-Orleans-Angulema. Collateral branch of the former founded by Count Carlos de Angulema, son of Juan de Orleans. His grandson would reign in France with the name of Francis I.
• Rama Capeto-Evreux. Rama founded by Luis de Évreux, son of Felipe III of France. His son Philip of Evreux would reign in Navarre with the name of Philip III.
• Rama Capeto-Courtenay, a branch founded by Count Pedro de Courtenay, son of Felipe I of France.
• Rama Capeto-Borgoñona. Sovereign in the Burgundy founded by Duke Roberto de Borgoña, son of Roberto II of France.
• Rama Capeto-Borgoñona of Portugal. Kingdom in Portugal, founded by Enrique de Borgoña, count of Portugal and father of Alfonso I.
• House of Avis. The bastard branch of the former, founded by John I, bastard of Peter I.
• I Braganza Dynasty. The bastard branch of the former, founded by Duke Alfonso I of Braganza, bastard of John I.
• II Braganza Dynasty. Collateral branch of the Avis. Founded by Duke Eduardo de Portugal, son of Manuel I, married to Isabel de Braganza, sister of the last duke of the I dynasty. His bizniete, Duke John II of Braganza, would come to the Portuguese throne with the name of John IV.
• Rama Capeto-Anjou-Sicilia. Rama founded by Carlos, Duke of Anjou and Maine, Count of Provence and King of Sicily and Naples. He was the posthumous son of Louis VIII.
• Rama Capeto-Anjou-Sicilia of Hungary. Collateral branch of the former, founded by Carlos Martel de Anjou-Sicilia, son of Carlos II of Naples and Sicily and María Árpád of Hungary. His grandson Luis I would also reign in Poland.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón, a branch founded by Count Roberto de Clermont, son of Luis IX of France, married to Beatriz de Borbón. His son Luis I of Bourbon, received the title of Duke of Bourbon and Par of France. A descendant of his, Antonio de Borbón, reigned in Navarre for his marriage with Juana III. The son of both would come to the French throne with the name of Henry IV.
• Casa de Borbón-Busset, Founded by the fourth son of Carlos I de Borbón duque de Borbón y de Inés de Borgoña (1407-1476), Luis de Borbón (1438-1482), Prince-Bishop of Liège for the protection of his uncle Carlos el Temerario. Tuvo de Catalina de Egmont, duchess of Gueldre, three natural sons (until proof of the opposite), of which the eldest, Pedro de Borbón Señor de L'Isle (1464-1530), called "the great bastard of Liège", chambelán of King Louis XII of France, married Margarita de Tourzel d'Alegre, Baroness of Busseton,
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Orleans. Rama founded by Duke Felipe I of Orleans, second son of Louis XIII of France. A descendant of his would reign in France with the name of Luis Felipe I.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Spain. Rama founded by Duke Felipe de Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France, who reigned in Spain with the name of Felipe V.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Spain-Parma. Collateral branch founded by Felipe I de Parma, son of Felipe V of Spain and Isabel de Farnesio.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Spain-Parma-Carlista. Branch founded by Francisco Javier de Borbón-Parma.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Spain-Parma-Luxembourg. Branch founded by Felix de Borbón-Parma married to Carlota de Luxembourg. The son of both was John I of Luxembourg.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Spain-Dos Sicilias. Rama founded by Fernando I de las Dos Sicilias, son of Carlos III of Spain.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Spain-Braganza. Rama founded by Gabriel de Borbón, son of Carlos III of Spain.
• Rama Capeto-Borbón-Spain-Carlista. Rama founded Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, son of Carlos IV of Spain and suitor to the Spanish throne with the name of Carlos V
• Rama Capeto-Borbon-Spain-Cádiz Sevilla. Branch founded by Francisco de Paula de Borbón, son of Carlos IV of Spain. His son Francisco de Assisi de Borbón would reign in Spain with his cousin and wife, Isabel II.

Genealogy