# List of heirs to the French throne

The following is a list of the heirs to the throne of the Kingdom of France, that is, those who were legally next in line to assume the throne upon the death of the King.
From 987 to 1792, all heirs to the French throne were male-line descendants of Hugh Capet.

## Capetian associate kings

The crown of France under the earliest Capetian monarchs was elective, not hereditary. There was no mechanism for automatic succession unless an heir was crowned as associate king, ready to step up as primary king when the previous king died. This procedure was very similar to the method by which the Germans elected a King of the Romans during the lifetime of the German monarch. The early Capetians generally made sure their sons were crowned as associate kings with them, with such success that the inheritance of the eldest son and heir to the kingship came to be accepted as a matter of right. Louis VI of France was the first king to take the throne without having been crowned in his father's time; however, his right to take the throne was initially contested.
House of Capet (987–1328) :
| Monarch | Co-king | Relationship to monarch | Crowned | Co-kingship ceased | Reason |
| Hughes "Capet" | No co-king Jun–Dec 987 | No co-king Jun–Dec 987 | No co-king Jun–Dec 987 | No co-king Jun–Dec 987 | No co-king Jun–Dec 987 |
| Hughes "Capet" | Robert (II) | Son | 30 December 987 | 24 October 996 | Became sole king |
| Robert II | No co-king 996–1017 | No co-king 996–1017 | No co-king 996–1017 | No co-king 996–1017 | No co-king 996–1017 |
| Robert II | Hughes | Son | 19 June 1017 | 17 September 1025 | Died |
| No co-king 1025–1027 |||||
| Robert II | Henri (I) | Son | 14 May 1027 | 20 July 1031 | Became sole king |
| Henri I | No co-king 1031–1059 | No co-king 1031–1059 | No co-king 1031–1059 | No co-king 1031–1059 | No co-king 1031–1059 |
| Henri I | Philippe (I) | Son | 23 May 1059 | 4 August 1060 | Became sole king |
| Philippe I | No co-king 1060–1108 | No co-king 1060–1108 | No co-king 1060–1108 | No co-king 1060–1108 | No co-king 1060–1108 |
| Louis VI | No co-king 1108–1129 | No co-king 1108–1129 | No co-king 1108–1129 | No co-king 1108–1129 | No co-king 1108–1129 |
| Louis VI | Philippe | Son | 14 April 1129 | 13 October 1131 | Died |
| No co-king 13–25 Oct 1131 |||||
| Louis VI | Louis (VII) | Son | 25 October 1131 | 1 August 1137 | Became sole king |
| Louis VII | No co-king 1037–1079 | No co-king 1037–1079 | No co-king 1037–1079 | No co-king 1037–1079 | No co-king 1037–1079 |
| Louis VII | Philippe (II) | Son | 1 November 1179 | 18 September 1180 | Became sole king |

## Capetian heirs by Salic succession I

After the accession of Philip II of France, the throne became de jure as well as de facto hereditary, so that on the death of the king, the legal heir became king immediately, and could exercise authority without coronation. The throne passed to the closest male heir.
Heirs who actually succeeded are shown in bold type. From 1350 on, the heir apparent to the French throne was styled Dauphin. Heirs so styled are accompanied on the table below by an image of the Dauphin's coat of arms. The title was abandoned in 1791 in favor of the style Prince Royal, less than a year before the abolition of the monarchy.
House of Capet (987–1328) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Philippe II | Succession uncertain 1180–1187 | Succession uncertain 1180–1187 | Succession uncertain 1180–1187 | Succession uncertain 1180–1187 | Succession uncertain 1180–1187 | Succession uncertain 1180–1187 |
| Philippe II | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1187 Born | 14 July 1223 Father died, became king | None, 1187–1190 |
| Philippe II | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1187 Born | 14 July 1223 Father died, became king | Robert, 1190, brother |
| Philippe II | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1187 Born | 14 July 1223 Father died, became king | Philippe, 1190, brother |
| Philippe II | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1187 Born | 14 July 1223 Father died, became king | None, 1190–1209 |
| Philippe II | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1187 Born | 14 July 1223 Father died, became king | Philippe, 1209–1218, son |
| Philippe II | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1187 Born | 14 July 1223 Father died, became king | Louis, 1218–1223, son |
| Louis VIII | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 14 July 1223 Father became king | 8 November 1226 Father died, became king | Robert, brother |
| Louis IX | Robert I, Count of Artois | Heir presumptive | Brother | 8 November 1226 Brother became king | 24 February 1244 Son born to king | Jean Tristan, 1226–1232, brother |
| Louis IX | Robert I, Count of Artois | Heir presumptive | Brother | 8 November 1226 Brother became king | 24 February 1244 Son born to king | Alphonse, Count of Poitiers, 1232–1244, brother |
| Louis IX | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 24 February 1244 Born | 11 January 1260 Died | Robert I, Count of Artois, 1244–1245, uncle |
| Louis IX | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 24 February 1244 Born | 11 January 1260 Died | Philippe, 1245–1260, brother |
| Louis IX | Philippe | Heir apparent | Son | 11 January 1260 Brother died | 25 August 1270 Father died, became king | Jean Tristan, Count of Valois, 1260–1264, brother |
| Louis IX | Philippe | Heir apparent | Son | 11 January 1260 Brother died | 25 August 1270 Father died, became king | Louis, 1264–1270, son |
| Philippe III | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 25 August 1270 Father became king | May 1276 Died | Philippe, brother |
| Philippe III | Philippe | Heir apparent | Son | May 1276 Brother died | 5 October 1285 Father died, became king | Charles, Count of Valois, brother |
| Philippe IV | Charles, Count of Valois | Heir presumptive | Brother | 5 October 1285 Brother became king | 4 October 1289 Son born to king | Louis, Count of Évreux, half-brother |
| Philippe IV | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 4 October 1289 Born | 29 November 1314 Father died, became king | Charles, Count of Valois, 1289–1293, uncle |
| Philippe IV | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 4 October 1289 Born | 29 November 1314 Father died, became king | Philippe, Count of Poitiers, 1293–1314, brother |
| Louis X | Philippe, Count of Poitiers | Heir presumptive | Brother | 29 November 1314 Brother became king | 5 June 1316 Brother died, sister-in-law pregnant | Charles, Count of La Marche, brother |
| Jean I | Philippe, Count of Poitiers | Heir presumptive | Uncle | 15 November 1316 Posthumous son born to the late king | 19 November 1316 Nephew died, became king | Philippe, son |
| Philippe V | Philippe | Heir apparent | Son | 19 November 1316 Father became king | 24 February 1317 Died | Charles, Count of La Marche, uncle |
| Philippe V | Charles, Count of La Marche | Heir presumptive | Brother | 24 February 1317 Nephew died | 3 January 1322 Brother died, became king | Philippe, son |
| Charles IV | Philippe | Heir apparent | Son | 3 January 1322 Father became king | 24 March 1322 Died | Charles, Count of Valois, granduncle |
| Charles IV | Charles, Count of Valois | Heir presumptive | Uncle | 24 March 1322 Grandnephew died | 20 March 1324 Son born to king | Philippe, Count of Maine, son |
| Charles IV | Louis | Heir apparent | Son | 20 March 1324 Born | 21 March 1324 Died | Charles, Count of Valois, granduncle |
| Charles IV | Charles, Count of Valois | Heir presumptive | Uncle | 21 March 1324 Grandnephew died | 16 December 1325 Died | Philippe, Count of Maine, son |
| Charles IV | Philippe, Count of Valois | Heir presumptive | 1st cousin | 16 December 1325 Father died | 1 February 1328 1st cousin died, his wife pregnant | Jean of Valois, son |
| House of Valois (1328–1589) |||||||
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Philippe VI | Jean, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | Son | 1 April 1328 Father became king | 22 August 1350 Father died, became king | Charles II, Count of Alençon, 1328–1330, uncle |
| Philippe VI | Jean, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | Son | 1 April 1328 Father became king | 22 August 1350 Father died, became king | Louis, 1330, brother |
| Philippe VI | Jean, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | Son | 1 April 1328 Father became king | 22 August 1350 Father died, became king | Charles II, Count of Alençon, 1330–1333, uncle |
| Philippe VI | Jean, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | Son | 1 April 1328 Father became king | 22 August 1350 Father died, became king | Jean, 1330, brother |
| Philippe VI | Jean, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | Son | 1 April 1328 Father became king | 22 August 1350 Father died, became king | Charles II, Count of Alençon, 1333–1336, uncle |
| Philippe VI | Jean, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | Son | 1 April 1328 Father became king | 22 August 1350 Father died, became king | Philippe, Duke of Orléans, 1336–1338, brother |
| Philippe VI | Jean, Duke of Normandy | Heir apparent | Son | 1 April 1328 Father became king | 22 August 1350 Father died, became king | Charles, 1338–1350, son |
| Jean II | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 22 August 1350 Father became king | 8 April 1364 Father died, became king | Louis I, Duke of Anjou, brother |
| Charles V | Louis I, Duke of Anjou | Heir presumptive | Brother | 8 April 1364 Brother became king | 7 June 1366 Son born to king | Jean, Duke of Berry, brother |
| Charles V | Jean | Heir apparent | Son | 7 June 1366 Born | 21 December 1366 Died | Louis I, Duke of Anjou, uncle |
| Charles V | Louis I, Duke of Anjou | Heir presumptive | Brother | 21 December 1366 Nephew died | 3 December 1368 Son born to king | Jean, Duke of Berry, brother |
| Charles V | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 December 1368 Born | 16 September 1380 Father died, became king | Louis I, Duke of Anjou, 1368–1372, uncle |
| Charles V | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 December 1368 Born | 16 September 1380 Father died, became king | Louis, 1372–1380, brother |
| Charles VI | Louis | Heir presumptive | Brother | 16 September 1380 Brother became king | 25 September 1386 Son born to king | Louis I, Duke of Anjou, 1380–1384, uncle |
| Charles VI | Louis | Heir presumptive | Brother | 16 September 1380 Brother became king | 25 September 1386 Son born to king | Louis II, Duke of Anjou, 1384–1386, 1st cousin |
| Charles VI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 25 September 1386 Born | 28 December 1386 Died | Louis, Duke of Touraine, uncle |
| Charles VI | Louis, Duke of Touraine | Heir presumptive | Brother | 28 December 1386 Nephew died | 6 February 1392 Son born to king | Louis II, Duke of Anjou, 1st cousin |
| Charles VI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 6 February 1392 Born | 13 January 1401 Died | Louis I, Duke of Orléans, 1392–1397, uncle |
| Charles VI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 6 February 1392 Born | 13 January 1401 Died | Louis, 1397–1401, brother |
| Charles VI | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 13 January 1401 Brother died | 18 December 1415 Died | Jean, Duke of Touraine, brother |
| Charles VI | Jean, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 18 December 1415 Brother died | 5 April 1417 Died | Charles, Count of Ponthieu, brother |
| Charles VI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 5 April 1417 Brother died | 21 October 1422 Father died, became king | Charles I, Duke of Orléans, 1st cousin |
* ↑ Philippe II's closest living male relatives by Salic primogeniture, other than his own descendants, were his uncle, Robert I, Count of Dreux (1180–1188), and then his first cousin, Robert II, Count of Dreux (1188–1209).
* ↑ On 5 June 1316, Louis X died while Queen Clémence was pregnant, so the throne went vacant, depending on whether the unborn child was a male or a female: a male would make that child king, while a female would make the late king's next brother (Philippe, Count of Poitiers) king. During this period, Philippe ruled as regent until the child, a boy, was born on 15 November 1316; he was King Jean I from birth. On 19 November 1316, Jean I died, four days after his birth, and the regent became King Philippe V.
* ↑ Born on 24 June 1316, between Louis X's death and Jean I's birth.
* ↑ On 1 February 1328, Charles IV died while Queen Jeanne was pregnant, so the throne went vacant, depending on whether the unborn child was a male or a female: a male would make that child king, while a female would make the late king's first cousin (Philippe, Count of Valois) king. During this period, Philippe ruled as regent until the child, a girl named Blanche, was born on 1 April 1328; as a result, the regent became King Philippe VI.
* ↑ Charles VII became king in little more than name, as in 1422 much of France was either in rebellion against his authority or under the control of an English occupation force, in the name of King Henry VI of England (his nephew, son of Catherine of Valois), who had been proclaimed King of France according to the Treaty of Troyes. Over the course of his reign Charles VII reasserted control over most of France.

## Lancastrian succession

On May 21, 1420, the government of Charles VI was obliged to sign the Treaty of Troyes, which provided a legal framework for the transfer of power to Henry V, King of England, who had invaded and occupied northern France, including Paris. Under the treaty, Henry, who was to marry Charles' daughter Catherine, was named as "Heir of France" and the Dauphin Charles was disinherited. The treaty was not recognized by those factions which were still at war with England, and only had legal force in English-occupied territory and, more briefly, in the Burgundian lands (1420–1435) and in Brittany.
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Charles VI | King Henry V of England | Heir apparent | Son-in-law | 21 May 1420 Treaty of Troyes | 31 August 1422 Died | None, 1420—1421 |
| Charles VI | King Henry V of England | Heir apparent | Son-in-law | 21 May 1420 Treaty of Troyes | 31 August 1422 Died | Henry, Duke of Cornwall, son, 1421–1422 |
| Charles VI | King Henry VI of England | Heir apparent | Grandson | 31 August 1422 Father died | 21 October 1422 Grandfather died, became king | None |
| House of Lancaster (1422—1453) |||||||
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Henri II | Succession uncertain 1422—1453 | Succession uncertain 1422—1453 | Succession uncertain 1422—1453 | Succession uncertain 1422—1453 | Succession uncertain 1422—1453 | Succession uncertain 1422—1453 |
| Henri II | Edward, Duke of Cornwall | Heir apparent | Son | 13 October 1453 Born | 19 October 1453 Father deposed | None |

## Capetian heirs by Salic succession II

In southern France, the treaty of Troyes was never regarded as valid, and Charles VII was considered to have become king upon his father's death. Given his repudiation by his father, however, his status remained uncertain until his coronation at Reims on 17 July 1429. In the following two decades Charles VII regained control of most of France; the English were finally expelled from Guienne on 19 October 1453, retaining only the port of Calais.
House of Valois (1328–1589) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Charles VII | Charles I, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 1st cousin | 21 October 1422 1st cousin became king | 3 July 1423 Son born to king | Jean, Count of Angoulême, brother |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Charles I, Duke of Orléans, 1423–1426, 1st cousin –1 |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Jean, 1426, brother |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Charles I, Duke of Orléans, 1423–1426, 1st cousin –1 |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Jacques, 1432–1437, brother |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Charles I, Duke of Orléans, 1437–1446, 1st cousin –1 |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Charles, 1446–1458, brother |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Louis, 1458–1460, son |
| Charles VII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 3 July 1423 Born | 22 July 1461 Father died, became king | Charles, 1460–1461, brother |
| Louis XI | Charles, Duke of Berry | Heir presumptive | Brother | 22 July 1461 Brother became king | 4 December 1466 Son born to king | Charles I, Duke of Orléans, 1461–1465, 1st cousin –1 |
| Louis XI | Charles, Duke of Berry | Heir presumptive | Brother | 22 July 1461 Brother became king | 4 December 1466 Son born to king | Louis II, Duke of Orléans, 1465–1466, 2nd cousin |
| Louis XI | François, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 4 December 1466 Born | 4 December 1466 Died | Charles, Duke of Berry, uncle |
| Louis XI | Charles, Duke of Berry | Heir presumptive | Brother | 4 December 1466 Nephew died | 30 June 1470 Son born to king | Louis II, Duke of Orléans, 1465–1466, 2nd cousin |
| Louis XI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 30 June 1470 Born | 30 August 1483 Father died, became king | Charles, Duke of Berry, 1470–1472, uncle |
| Louis XI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 30 June 1470 Born | 30 August 1483 Father died, became king | Louis II, Duke of Orléans, 1472, 2nd cousin –1 |
| Louis XI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 30 June 1470 Born | 30 August 1483 Father died, became king | François, 1472–1473, brother |
| Louis XI | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 30 June 1470 Born | 30 August 1483 Father died, became king | Louis II, Duke of Orléans, 1473–1483, 2nd cousin –1 |
| Charles VIII | Louis II, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin –1 | 30 August 1483 2nd cousin +1 became king | 11 October 1492 Son born to king | Charles, Count of Angoulême, 1st cousin |
| Charles VIII | Charles Orland, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 11 October 1492 Born | 16 December 1495 Died | Louis II, Duke of Orléans, 2nd cousin –2 |
| Charles VIII | Louis II, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin –1 | 16 December 1495 2nd cousin +2 died | 8 September 1496 Son born to king | Charles, Count of Angoulême, 1495–1496, 1st cousin |
| Charles VIII | Louis II, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin –1 | 16 December 1495 2nd cousin +2 died | 8 September 1496 Son born to king | François, Count of Angoulême, 1496, 1st cousin +1 |
| Charles VIII | Charles, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 8 September 1496 Born | 2 October 1496 Died | Louis II, Duke of Orléans, 2nd cousin –2 |
| Charles VIII | Louis II, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin –1 | 2 October 1496 2nd cousin +2 died | July 1497 Son born to king | François, Count of Angoulême, 1st cousin +1 |
| Charles VIII | François, Dauphin de France | Heir apparent | Son | July 1497 Born | 1497 Died | Louis II, Duke of Orléans, 2nd cousin –2 |
| Charles VIII | Louis II, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin –1 | 1497 2nd cousin +2 died | 7 April 1498 2nd cousin +1 died, became king | François, Count of Angoulême, 1st cousin +1 |
| Louis XII | François, Duke of Valois | Heir presumptive | 1st cousin +1 | 7 April 1498 1st cousin –1 became king | 1 January 1515 1st cousin –1 died, became king | Charles IV, Duke of Alençon, 5th cousin –1 |
| François I | Charles IV, Duke of Alençon | Heir presumptive | 5th cousin –1 | 1 January 1515 5th cousin +1 became king | 28 February 1518 Son born to king | Charles III, Duke of Bourbon, 7th cousin |
| François I | François, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 28 February 1518 Born | 10 August 1536 Died | Charles IV, Duke of Alençon, 1518–1519, 5th cousin –2 |
| François I | François, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 28 February 1518 Born | 10 August 1536 Died | Henri I, Duke of Orléans, 1519–1536, brother |
| François I | Henri, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 10 August 1536 Brother died | 31 March 1547 Father died, became king | Charles II, Duke of Orléans, 1536–1544, brother |
| François I | Henri, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 10 August 1536 Brother died | 31 March 1547 Father died, became king | François, 1544–1547, son |
| Henri II | François, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 31 March 1547 Father became king | 10 July 1559 Father died, became king | Antoine, Duke of Vendôme, 1547–1549, 8th cousin –2 |
| Henri II | François, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 31 March 1547 Father became king | 10 July 1559 Father died, became king | Louis III, Duke of Orléans, 1549–1550, brother |
| Henri II | François, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 31 March 1547 Father became king | 10 July 1559 Father died, became king | Charles III, Duke of Orléans, 1550–1559, brother |
| François II | Charles III, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | Brother | 10 July 1559 Brother became king | 5 December 1560 Brother died, became king | Henri, Duke of Angoulême, brother |
| Charles IX | Henri, Duke of Anjou | Heir presumptive | Brother | 5 December 1560 Brother became king | 30 May 1574 Brother died, became king | François, Duke of Alençon, brother |
| Henri III | François, Duke of Anjou | Heir presumptive | Brother | 30 May 1574 Brother became king | 10 June 1584 Died | Henri, Duke of Vendôme, 9th cousin –1 |
| Henri III | Henri, Duke of Vendôme | Heir presumptive | 9th cousin –1 | 10 June 1584 9th cousin +1 became king | 2 August 1589 9th cousin +1 assassinated, became king | Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon, uncle |
| House of Bourbon (1589–1792) |||||||
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Henri IV | Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon | Heir presumptive | Uncle | 2 August 1589 Nephew became king | 9 May 1590 Died | Henri II, Prince of Condé, grandnephew |
| Henri IV | Henri II, Prince of Condé | Heir presumptive | 1st cousin +1 | 9 May 1590 Granduncle died | 27 September 1601 Son born to king | François, Prince of Conti, uncle |
| Henri IV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 27 September 1601 Born | 14 May 1610 Father assassinated, became king | Henri II, Prince of Condé, 1601–1607, 2nd cousin |
| Henri IV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 27 September 1601 Born | 14 May 1610 Father assassinated, became king | The Duke of Orléans, 1607–1610, brother |
| Louis XIII | The Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | Brother | 14 May 1610 Brother became king | 17 November 1611 Died | Gaston, Duke of Anjou, brother |
| Louis XIII | Gaston, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | Brother | 17 November 1611 Brother died | 5 September 1638 Son born to king | Henri II, Prince of Condé, 2nd cousin |
| Louis XIII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1638 Born | 14 May 1643 Father died, became king | Gaston, Duke of Orléans, 1638–1640, uncle |
| Louis XIII | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 5 September 1638 Born | 14 May 1643 Father died, became king | Philippe, Duke of Anjou, 1640–1643, brother |
| Louis XIV | Philippe I, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | Brother | 14 May 1643 Brother became king | 1 November 1661 Son born to king | Gaston, Duke of Orléans, 1643–1660, uncle |
| Louis XIV | Philippe I, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | Brother | 14 May 1643 Brother became king | 1 November 1661 Son born to king | Louis II, Prince of Condé, 1660–1661, 3rd cousin |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 1 November 1661 Born | 14 April 1711 Died | Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, 1661–1668, uncle |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 1 November 1661 Born | 14 April 1711 Died | Philippe Charles, Duke of Anjou, 1668–1671, brother |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 1 November 1661 Born | 14 April 1711 Died | Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, 1671–1672, uncle |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 1 November 1661 Born | 14 April 1711 Died | Louis François, Duke of Anjou, 1672, brother |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 1 November 1661 Born | 14 April 1711 Died | Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, 1672–1682, uncle |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 1 November 1661 Born | 14 April 1711 Died | Louis, Duke of Burgundy, 1682–1711, son |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Grandson | 14 April 1711 Father died | 18 February 1712 Died | Louis, Duke of Brittany, son |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Great-grandson | 18 February 1712 Father died | 8 March 1712 Died | Louis, Duke of Anjou, brother |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Great-grandson | 8 March 1712 Brother died | 1 September 1715 Great-grandfather died, became king | King Felipe V of Spain, 1712–1713, uncle |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Great-grandson | 8 March 1712 Brother died | 1 September 1715 Great-grandfather died, became king | Charles, Duke of Berry, 1713–1714, uncle |
| Louis XIV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Great-grandson | 8 March 1712 Brother died | 1 September 1715 Great-grandfather died, became king | Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, 1714–1715, 1st cousin –2 |
| Louis XV | Philippe II, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 1st cousin –2 | 1 September 1715 1st cousin +2 became king | 2 December 1723 Died | Louis, Duke of Chartres, son |
| Louis XV | Louis, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin –1 | 2 December 1723 Father died | 4 September 1729 Son born to king | Louis IV Henri, Prince of Condé, 1723–1725, 5th cousin +1 |
| Louis XV | Louis, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 2nd cousin –1 | 2 December 1723 Father died | 4 September 1729 Son born to king | Louis Philippe I, Duke of Chartres, 1725–1729, son |
| Louis XV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 4 September 1729 Born | 20 December 1765 Died | Louis, Duke of Orléans, 1729–1730, 2nd cousin –2 |
| Louis XV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 4 September 1729 Born | 20 December 1765 Died | Philippe, Duke of Anjou, 1730–1733, brother |
| Louis XV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 4 September 1729 Born | 20 December 1765 Died | Louis, Duke of Orléans, 1733–1751, 2nd cousin –2 |
| Louis XV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 4 September 1729 Born | 20 December 1765 Died | Louis, Duke of Burgundy, 1751–1761, son |
| Louis XV | Louis, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 4 September 1729 Born | 20 December 1765 Died | Louis Auguste, Duke of Berry, 1761–1765, son |
| Louis XV | Louis Auguste, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Grandson | 20 December 1765 Father died | 10 May 1774 Grandfather died, became king | Louis Stanislas, Count of Provence, brother |
| Louis XVI | Louis Stanislas, Count of Provence | Heir presumptive | Brother | 10 May 1774 Brother became king | 22 October 1781 Son born to king | Charles, Count of Artois, brother |
| Louis XVI | Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 22 October 1781 Born | 4 June 1789 Died | Louis Stanislas, Count of Provence, 1781–1785, uncle |
| Louis XVI | Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 22 October 1781 Born | 4 June 1789 Died | Louis Charles, Duke of Normandy, 1785–1789, brother |
| Louis XVI | Louis Charles, Dauphin of France (Prince Royal from 1791) | Heir apparent | Son | 4 June 1789 Brother died | 21 September 1792 Monarchy abolished (First Republic) | Louis Stanislas, Count of Provence, uncle |
| Louis XVII | Disputed reign 1793–1795 | Disputed reign 1793–1795 | Disputed reign 1793–1795 | Disputed reign 1793–1795 | Disputed reign 1793–1795 | Disputed reign 1793–1795 |
* ↑ Renounced succession rights for himself and descendants in the Peace of Utrecht.
* ↑ Following the abolition of the monarchy by the National Convention, Louis XVI and his family were held in confinement. Louis XVI was found guilty by the Convention of treason against the state, and was executed on 21 January 1793. Louis Charles, Dauphin of France was thereafter proclaimed "Louis XVII of France" by French royalists, but never reigned in practice, and died in prison on 8 June 1795, aged 10.
Following the abolition of the monarchy of France by the French National Convention, Louis XVI and his family were held in confinement. Louis XVI was found guilty by the Convention of treason against the state, and was executed on 21 January 1793. The Dauphin Louis–Charles was thereafter proclaimed "Louis XVII of France" by French royalists, but was kept confined and never reigned. He died of illness on 8 June 1795.
Louis–Stanislas–Xavier, Count of Provence, was subsequently proclaimed "Louis XVIII", but was in exile from France and powerless.

## Bonaparte succession: First Empire

France passed through a series of republican regimes until a hereditary monarchy was restored in the person of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was proclaimed hereditary Emperor of the French on 18 May 1804. The succession law promulgated at the same time also demanded a Salic succession, in which Napoleon was to be succeeded by, first, his own legitimate offspring, then his elder brother Joseph Bonaparte and his descendants, and finally his younger brother Louis Bonaparte and his descendants. (Napoleon's other brothers were omitted for various reasons.) The title of the heir apparent of the First Empire was King of Rome.
House of Bonaparte (1804–1814) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Napoléon I | Joseph Bonaparte | Heir presumptive | Brother | 18 May 1804 First Empire established | 20 March 1811 Son born to emperor | Louis Bonaparte, brother |
| Napoléon I | Napoléon François, King of Rome | Heir apparent | Son | 20 March 1811 Born | 6 April 1814 First Empire abolished (Bourbon monarchy restored) | Joseph Bonaparte, uncle |
Napoleon I was defeated by an alliance of most of the other European powers, and abdicated unconditionally, for himself and his son, on 6 April 1814 (an abdication given legal force by a treaty with the Allies dated 11 April 1814) and went into exile.

## Restored Bourbon succession I

On 6 April 1814, the Senate of the French Empire summoned Louis Stanislas Xavier, Count of Provence—already styling himself "Louis XVIII"—to become head of a restored, but constitutional, French monarchy. Louis' younger brother, Charles, Count of Artois, came to Paris on 12 April and was appointed Lieutenant-General of the realm; Louis himself returned on 3 May, and on 4 June he authorized the publication of a constitution for France (the Charter of 1814) by which he became a constitutional monarch. With the acceptance of this constitution we can say that the monarchy was resumed, although by royalist principles the Republican and Imperial governments of 1792–1814 had all been illegitimate, and the monarchy itself had never ceased.
House of Bourbon (1814–1815) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Louis XVIII | Charles, Count of Artois | Heir presumptive | Brother | 6 April 1814 Bourbon monarchy restored | 20 March 1815 Bourbon monarchy abolished (First Empire's Hundred Days) | Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, son |
On 1 March 1815, however, Napoleon returned to France. With Napoleon I within miles of the capital, Louis XVIII and all his family fled Paris on 19 March, and for the next several months they remained in exile, until the victory of Waterloo allowed them to return.

## Restored Bonaparte succession

On 20 March Napoleon entered Paris and once again proclaimed the Empire. Although the Imperial Constitution was amended in a more democratic direction, the hereditary office of Emperor and the succession laws remained unchanged.
House of Bonaparte (Mar–Jun 1815) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Napoléon I | Napoléon François, King of Rome | Heir apparent | Son | 20 March 1815 First Empire restored (Hundred Days) | 22 June 1815 Father abdicated, technically became emperor | Joseph Bonaparte, uncle |
| Napoléon II | Disputed reign Jun–Jul 1815 | Disputed reign Jun–Jul 1815 | Disputed reign Jun–Jul 1815 | Disputed reign Jun–Jul 1815 | Disputed reign Jun–Jul 1815 | Disputed reign Jun–Jul 1815 |
| Napoléon II | Joseph Bonaparte | Heir presumptive | Uncle | 22 June 1815 Nephew technically became emperor | 8 July 1815 First Empire abolished (Bourbon monarchy restored) | Louis Bonaparte, brother |
This restored First Empire lasted until 22 June 1815, when Napoleon abdicated again, this time in favor of a regency on behalf of his son (who had been separated from his father in 1814 and was living in Vienna, Austria). The nominal reign of Napoleon II lasted no longer than until 7 July 1815, when an Allied army occupied Paris. Napoleon I was now exiled to the Atlantic island of St. Helena, where he died a prisoner 5 May 1821. Napoleon II continued to live under close observation in Vienna until he died of tuberculosis 22 July 1832. Neither Joseph nor Louis Bonaparte ever made any effort on behalf of the imperial claims that had descended to them.

## Restored Bourbon succession II

On July 8 Louis XVIII returned to Paris. Government was resumed under the 1814 Constitution as before.
House of Bourbon (1815–1830) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Louis XVIII | Charles, Count of Artois | Heir presumptive | Brother | 8 July 1815 Bourbon monarchy restored | 16 September 1824 Brother died, became king | Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, son |
| Charles X | Louis Antoine, Dauphin of France | Heir apparent | Son | 16 September 1824 Father became king | 2 August 1830 Father abdicated, technically became king | Henri, Duke of Bordeaux, nephew |
| Louis XIX | Disputed reign 2 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2 Aug 1830 |
| Louis XIX | Henri, Duke of Bordeaux | Heir presumptive | Nephew | 2 August 1830 Uncle technically became king and abdicated 20 minutes later, technically became king | 2 August 1830 Uncle technically became king and abdicated 20 minutes later, technically became king | Louis Philippe III, Duke of Orléans, 5th cousin –2 |
| Henri V | Disputed reign 2–9 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2–9 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2–9 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2–9 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2–9 Aug 1830 | Disputed reign 2–9 Aug 1830 |
| Henri V | Louis Philippe III, Duke of Orléans | Heir presumptive | 5th cousin –2 | 2 August 1830 5th cousin +2 technically became king | 9 August 1830 Bourbon monarchy abolished (July Monarchy), became king | Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Chartres, son |
Charles X's attempt in July 1830 to suspend the Charter of 1814 prompted a revolution. After several days of violence at the end of July and the beginning of August, Charles and his son fled Paris and signed an instrument of abdication. The intended beneficiary of the abdication was Charles' grandson (the Dauphin's nephew) Henry, Duke of Bordeaux, a child of 9.

## Orléans succession

After several days of discussion, the French Chamber of Deputies chose to ignore the instrument and instead proclaimed Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, as King on 9 August 1830.
Under the Orléans régime, the style Dauphin was not used for the heir apparent to the French throne; he was called instead Prince Royal, in accordance with the 1791–1792 usage.
House of Bourbon-Orléans (1830–1848) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Louis Philippe I | Prince Ferdinand Philippe, Prince Royal | Heir apparent | Son | 9 August 1830 July Monarchy established | 13 July 1842 Died | Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours, 1830–1838, brother |
| Louis Philippe I | Prince Ferdinand Philippe, Prince Royal | Heir apparent | Son | 9 August 1830 July Monarchy established | 13 July 1842 Died | Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, 1838–1842, son |
| Louis Philippe I | Prince Philippe, Prince Royal | Heir apparent | Grandson | 13 July 1842 Father died | 24 February 1848 Grandfather abdicated, technically became king | Prince Robert, Duke of Chartres, brother |
| Louis Philippe II | Disputed reign 24–26 Feb 1848 | Disputed reign 24–26 Feb 1848 | Disputed reign 24–26 Feb 1848 | Disputed reign 24–26 Feb 1848 | Disputed reign 24–26 Feb 1848 | Disputed reign 24–26 Feb 1848 |
| Louis Philippe II | Prince Robert, Duke of Chartres | Heir presumptive | Brother | 24 February 1848 Brother technically became king | 26 February 1848 July Monarchy abolished (Second Republic) | Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours, brother |
After a further revolutionary upheaval in 1848, Louis-Philippe abdicated on 24 February in favor of his grandson Philippe. The choice of Philippe was not accepted by the Chamber of Deputies, and instead the monarchy was abolished and a new Republic declared.

## Bonaparte succession: Second Empire

The Second Republic elected as its president Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, son of Napoleon I's brother Louis Bonaparte. President Bonaparte overthrew the Republic by self coup on 2 December 1851; exactly one year later, following a plebiscite, he converted himself into an Emperor, Napoleon III—considering the brief reign of "Napoleon II" in 1815 as valid.
The succession laws were similar to those of the First Empire, except that Jérôme Bonaparte and his male-line male descendants were, by special decree, eligible for the succession, following the descendants of Napoleon III himself (Joseph Bonaparte had died leaving no male children; other than Napoleon III, no other descendants of Louis Bonaparte survived by 1852).
The heir apparent of the Emperor was titled Prince Imperial, parallel to the Orléans title of Prince Royal.
House of Bonaparte (1852–1870) :
| Monarch | Heir | Status | Relationship to monarch | Became heir Reason | Ceased to be heir Reason | Next in line of succession |
| Napoléon III | Succession uncertain 2–18 Dec 1852 | Succession uncertain 2–18 Dec 1852 | Succession uncertain 2–18 Dec 1852 | Succession uncertain 2–18 Dec 1852 | Succession uncertain 2–18 Dec 1852 | Succession uncertain 2–18 Dec 1852 |
| Napoléon III | Jérôme Bonaparte | Heir presumptive | Uncle | 18 December 1852 Nominated by decree | 16 March 1856 Son born to emperor | Prince Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte, son |
| Napoléon III | Prince Louis-Napoléon, Prince Imperial | Heir apparent | Son | 16 March 1856 Born | 4 September 1870 Second Empire abolished (Third Republic) | Jérôme Bonaparte, 1856–1860, granduncle |
| Napoléon III | Prince Louis-Napoléon, Prince Imperial | Heir apparent | Son | 16 March 1856 Born | 4 September 1870 Second Empire abolished (Third Republic) | Prince Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte, 1860–1870, 1st cousin –1 |
* ↑ Jérôme Bonaparte had an older son by a first marriage, Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte, but he was an American citizen and he and his descendants were not considered part of the line of succession.
With the failure of the Imperial army at the Battle of Sedan in the Franco-Prussian War, Napoleon III was captured and his government collapsed. Two days after the battle a Third Republic was declared which would last for seventy years. The Imperial family went into exile. France has not been ruled by a monarchy from this point.