House of Bourbon

The House of Bourbon is a famous royal family that started in the Kingdom of France. They were part of a bigger family called the Capetian dynasty, which ruled France for many years. The Bourbons first began ruling in France and a nearby area called Navarre in the 1500s. Later, some of their family members started ruling in Spain, and today, Spain and Luxembourg still have kings and queens from the Bourbon family.

The Bourbon family began in 1272 when a man named Robert, who was related to King Saint Louis IX of France, married the ruler of a place called Bourbon. For many years, they were important nobles but not the main rulers. In 1589, when the old ruling family in France ran out of male heirs, a Bourbon named Henry IV became the king of France. He and his descendants ruled until the monarchy was overthrown during a big change called the French Revolution.

Even after the revolution, Bourbon kings came back to rule France for short times. One branch of the Bourbon family, called the House of Orléans, also ruled France for a while. The Bourbons also had family members who ruled in other countries, like Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma. Today, the Bourbon family still exists, and many royal families in Europe are related to them.

Origins

The House of Bourbon started as a noble family in France in the 13th century. They were connected to the land of Bourbon, ruled by the Sire de Bourbon, who served the King of France.

Later, in 1272, Robert, Count of Clermont, married Beatrix of Bourbon. Their descendant, Charles de Bourbon, was the last of the senior Bourbon line. After his death in 1527, the Bourbon family continued through other branches.

Eventually, one branch led to Henry IV of France in 1589, after the House of Valois ended. This made the Bourbons the ruling family of France.

List of Bourbons

Main articles: Descendants of Henry IV of France, Descendants of Louis XIV, Descendants of Philip V of Spain, and Descendants of Charles III of Spain

The House of Bourbon is a famous royal family that began in France. They were part of a bigger family called the Capetians. Some Bourbons became kings of France and Navarre in the 1500s. Later, a branch of the Bourbons started ruling Spain in the 1700s and still rules there today.

This list shows many different groups and families that came from the Bourbons, including dukes, counts, and kings from many places. Some of these families are no longer around today, while others continue.

France

The House of Bourbon began as a branch of the Capetian dynasty, which ruled France. The first Bourbon king of France was Henry IV. He was born in 1553 in the Kingdom of Navarre. His father was Antoine de Bourbon, and his mother was Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre. Henry became king in 1589 after a long struggle for the throne.

Henry IV brought peace and stability to France. He issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which allowed some religious freedom to Protestants. He also worked on improving the country's economy and infrastructure. His reign ended when he was assassinated in 1610.

Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, became king at a very young age. His long reign saw France become the most powerful country in Europe. He built the famous Palace of Versailles and ruled with absolute authority. His grandson, Louis XV, continued to rule France until the French Revolution.

The French Revolution began in 1789, leading to the end of the Bourbon monarchy in France. Louis XVI was executed, and the monarchy was replaced by a republic. Later, the Bourbons were restored to the throne briefly after Napoleon’s defeat but were overthrown again in 1830. The Bourbon line in France ended in 1848.

Bourbons of Spain and Italy

The Spanish branch of the Bourbon family began with Philip V. He was born in 1683 and became king of Spain after the previous king died without children. Some European countries did not like the idea of the same family ruling both France and Spain, which led to a big war called the War of the Spanish Succession. In the end, Philip became king of Spain but gave up any claim to the French throne.

Philip married again and had more children. He tried to gain control of some Italian lands for his sons, which caused more conflicts with other European countries. After Philip’s death, his brother Ferdinand VI ruled peacefully. When Ferdinand died, their half-brother Charles III took over. Charles made many changes to improve Spain and helped the American colonies during their fight against Britain.

Later Bourbon monarchs outside France

After the end of the French Empire, Ferdinand I became the ruler of Naples, creating the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1816 and starting the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. His people rebelled in 1820, and he had to agree to a constitution. Austria helped him by invading in 1821 and removing the constitution. He was followed by his son, Francis I, in 1825, and then by his grandson, Ferdinand II, in 1830. In 1848, people in Sicily rebelled again, and Ferdinand had to agree to a constitution, but it was removed in 1849. Ferdinand was succeeded by his son, Francis II, in 1859.

When Giuseppe Garibaldi took over Naples in 1860, Francis tried to keep his power by restoring the constitution. He escaped to the fortress of Gaeta, but it was captured in 1861. His kingdom became part of the Kingdom of Italy in March 1861.

Ferdinand VII returned to the throne of Spain in 1814. His people also rebelled in 1820, and he was forced to agree to a constitution. A French army removed the constitution in 1823. Ferdinand changed laws in 1833 so his daughter, Isabella, could become queen instead of his brother, Don Carlos.

Isabella II became queen in 1833 when she was only three years old. Her mother ruled for her until she was old enough. Isabella faced challenges from her uncle, Don Carlos, who wanted the throne. He found support in places like Catalonia and the Basque country, but he was defeated and left the country in 1839. Isabella married in 1846, but she was removed from the throne in 1868 after a military uprising.

After Spain became a republic, the crown was offered to Isabella’s son, Alfonso XII, who became king in 1875. He created a new constitution in 1876. Alfonso XII died young in 1885.

Alfonso XIII became king as a baby in 1886. His mother ruled until he was old enough in 1902. He stayed neutral during World War I, but supported a military leader in 1923. People began wanting a republic in 1930, and Alfonso left Spain in 1931. He lived in exile until his death in 1941.

The Bourbon dynasty seemed to end, but it returned in Spain after a civil war. Francisco Franco chose Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor in 1969. When Franco died, Juan Carlos became king and helped Spain become a democracy. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 recognized the monarchy.

Though the Bourbon dynasty no longer rules in France, it continues today in places like Spain and Luxembourg. It is considered one of the oldest royal families in Europe, with ancestors dating back many centuries.

List of Bourbon rulers

France

Monarchs of France and Navarre

Here are some important Bourbon rulers in France and Navarre and the years they ruled:

• Henry IV, the Great (1589–1610)
• Louis XIII, the Just (1610–1643)
• Louis XIV, the Sun King (1643–1715)
• Louis XV, the Well-Beloved (1715–1774)
• Louis XVI (1774–1792)

Monarchs of France

These Bourbons ruled France later:

• Louis XVIII (1814–1824)
• Charles X (1824–1830)
• Louis Philippe I (House of Bourbon-Orléans) (1830–1848)

Kingdom of Spain

The Bourbon family also ruled Spain. Here are some of the important rulers:

• Philip V (1700–1746)
• Louis I (1724, ruled less than one year)
• Ferdinand VI (1746–1759)
• Charles III (1759–1788)
• Charles IV (1788–1808)
• Ferdinand VII (1808–1833)
• Isabella II (1833–1870)
• Alfonso XII (1870–1885)
• Alfonso XIII (1886–1941)
• Juan, Count of Barcelona (1941–1977, never became King)
• Juan Carlos I (1977–2014, King from 1975–2014)
• Felipe VI (2014–present)

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Grand Dukes of Luxembourg from the Bourbon family:

• Jean (1964–2000)
• Henri (2000–2025)
• Guillaume V (2025–present)

Other significant Bourbon titles

Other important Bourbon titles include:

• Dukes of Bourbon, Montpensier, Vendôme, Anjou, Kings of the Two Sicilies, Dukes of Parma, Dukes of Orléans, Princes of Orléans and Braganza
• Princes of Condé
• Princes of Conti

Surnames used

In the past, the King of France did not have an official family name. Princes known as fils de France (Sons of France) were called "de France". Their descendants would use the king's main title as their family name.

When Louis XVI faced trouble during a big change in France, people called him "Citizen Louis Capet". Some parts of the Bourbon family, like the Bourbon-Condé branch, used the name "de Bourbon" until they ended in 1830.

The daughters of Gaston, Duke of Orléans were the first to use their father’s title as their family name. When Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, a brother of Louis XIV, became the ruler, his family kept using that name.

When Philip V became the king of Spain, he gave up his French titles. His family then used "de Bourbon" as their name. The children of Charles, Duke of Berry used the name "d'Alençon", and the children of Charles Philippe, Count of Artois used "d'Artois". When Charles X became king, his son’s family name changed to match his new rank.

Capetian related branches

The House of Bourbon is a branch of the Capetian dynasty, which was the royal family of France. Starting in the 16th century, Bourbon kings ruled France and Navarre. Later, a branch of the Bourbon family began ruling Spain, and they are still the royal family there today.

• Hugh Capet
  • Robert II of France
    • Henry I of France
      • Philip I of France
        • Louis VI of France
          • Louis VII of France
            • Philip II of France
              • Louis VIII of France
                • Louis IX of France
                  • Philip III of France
                    • Philip IV of France
                    • House of Valois
                    • .svg) House of Évreux
                  • .svg) House of Bourbon
                • House of Artois
                • House of Anjou
          • House of Dreux
          • House of Courtenay
      • House of Vermandois
    • .svg) House of Burgundy

The three dynasties of Bourbon

The Bourbon family began as the lords of Bourbon. Their male line ended in 1171, and the female line ended in 1216. They had a special coat of arms.

Later, the land passed to the house of Dampierre through marriage in 1196. This family used a different coat of arms but also took the name and arms of the earlier Bourbons.

Finally, the Bourbon family came to rule Navarre in 1555 and France in 1589 under Henri IV. Their coat of arms included many golden fleurs-de-lys on a blue background, with a red baton across the middle. The name "House of Bourbon" came to represent the whole House of France starting in 1768.

First House of Bourbon

The Lords of Bourbon were a family that began in the 9th century and lasted until 1196. They were important nobles in France. The family started with Knight Aymar or Adhemar, and over many years, many leaders carried the title of Lord of Bourbon, each one following the other.

One of the later leaders was Archambaud VII, and his daughter Mathilde became Lady of Bourbon. She married Guy II of Dampierre, who was Marshal of Champagne.

Second House of Bourbon (Bourbon-Dampierre)

The Second House of Bourbon started with Mathilde, also known as Mahaut, who became Lady of Bourbon in 1196. She was the granddaughter of Archambault VII, Lord of Bourbon, and married Guy II of Dampierre. Their descendant, Archambaud VIII the Great, continued the family line. Later, Archambaud IX the Young married Yolande of Châtillon. Their daughter Mahaut II married Eudes of Burgundy, leading to the Capetian House of Burgundy. Another daughter, Agnès, married John of Burgundy, and their daughter Beatrix later married Robert, Count of Clermont.

Third and current House of Bourbon

The House of Bourbon is a royal family that began in France as part of the larger Capetian dynasty. Members of this family first ruled France and the nearby kingdom of Navarre in the 1500s. Later, a branch of the French Bourbons started ruling Spain in the 1700s, and they remain the royal family there today.

The Bourbons have a long history with many princes and dukes, starting from the 1300s and continuing until the 1800s. They formed several smaller branches, such as the Bourbon-Vendôme and Bourbon-Condé families, each contributing to French history. Some became kings of France, starting with Henri IV in the late 1500s, beginning what is known as the Bourbon dynasty.

Line of Succession

The House of Bourbon is a famous royal family that started in France. They were part of the larger Capetian dynasty. The Bourbons first became kings of France and Navarre in the 16th century.

Later, a branch of the Bourbon family began ruling Spain in the 18th century, and they remain the royal family of Spain today. Many kings and princes across different countries belong to this family, showing their lasting influence in European history.

Family trees

Main articles: Family tree of French monarchs and Family tree of Spanish monarchs

Simplified family trees show how the Bourbons are connected to other branches of the Royal House of France.

see also:Family tree of Spanish monarchs