List of French monarchs

Ruled from the start of the Frankish Kingdom in 486 to 1870. During most of its history, France was ruled by kings. Four Carolingian monarchs were also Roman Emperors and the Bonapartes were Emperors of the French.

This article lists all rulers to have held the title "King of Franks", "King of France", "King of the French" or "Emperor of the French".

The title "King of the Franks" was in use until the reign of Philip II. During the short time when the French Constitution of 1791 was in effect (1791–1792) and after the July Revolution in 1830, the style "King of the French" was used instead of "King of France (and Navarre)".

In addition to the Kingdom of France, there were also two French Empires. The First French Empire was from 1804 to 1815. It was founded and ruled by Napoleon I. The Second French Empire was from 1852 to 1870. It was founded and ruled by his nephew Napoleon III Then 3rd 4th and 5th republic formed

 Earlier Monarchs 
+PictureNameReignTitle80pxPharamond / Faramund 392 - 428Gallic King

Merovingian Dynasty (428–751)
The name of France comes from the Germanic tribe known as the Franks. The Merovingian kings began as chieftains. The oldest known was Chlodio. Clovis I was the first of these to rise to true kingship. After his death, his kingdom was split between his sons into Soissons (Neustria), Paris, Orléans (Burgundy), and Metz (Austrasia). Several Merovingian monarchs brought back together the Frankish kingdoms and took the title of "King of the Franks". But upon their deaths, according to Frankish custom, the kingdom would often be split once again between their sons.

 Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80pxChlodio the Longhair(Clodion le Chevelu)428445/448Son of TheudemeresKing of the Salian Franks (Roi des Francs saliens)80pxMerovech (Mérovée)445/448457Son of ChlodioKing of the Salian Franks (Roi des Francs saliens)80pxChilderic I (Childéric Ier)457481/482Son of MerovechKing of the Salian Franks (Roi des Francs saliens)80pxClovis I (Clovis Ier)481/482511Son of Childeric IKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80pxChildebert I (Childebert Ier)51123 December 558Son of Clovis IKing of Paris (Roi de Paris)80pxChlothar I the Old (Clotaire Ier le Vieux)23 December 55829 November 561Son of Clovis I Younger brother of Childebert IKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80pxCharibert I (Caribert Ier)29 November 561567Son of Chlothar IKing of Paris (Roi de Paris)80pxChilperic I (Chilpéric Ier)567584Son of Chlothar I Younger brother of Charibert IKing of Paris (Roi de Paris) King of Neustria (Roi de Neustrie)80pxChlothar II the Great, the Young (Clotaire II le Grand, le Jeune)58418 October 629Son of Chilperic IKing of Neustria (Roi de Neustrie) King of Paris (Roi de Paris) (595–629) King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) (613–629)80pxDagobert I (Dagobert Ier)18 October 62919 January 639Son of Chlothar IIKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80pxClovis II the Lazy(Clovis II le Fainéant)19 January 63931 October 657Son of Dagobert IKing of Neustria and Burgundy (Roi de Neustrie et de Bourgogne)80pxChlothar III (Clotaire III)31 October 657673Son of Clovis IIKing of Neustria and Burgundy (Roi de Neustrie et de Bourgogne) King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) (657–663)80pxChilderic II (Childéric II)673675Son of Clovis II Younger brother of Chlothar IIIKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80pxTheuderic III (Thierry III)675691Son of Clovis II Younger brother of Childeric IIKing of Neustria (Roi de Neustrie) King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) (687–691)80pxClovis IV (Clovis IV)691695Son of Theuderic IIIKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80pxChildebert III the Just(Childebert III le Juste)69523 April 711Son of Theuderic III Younger brother of Clovis IVKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80pxDagobert III23 April 711715Son of Childebert IIIKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80pxChilperic II (Chilpéric II)71513 February 721Probably son of Childeric IIKing of Neustria and Burgundy (Roi de Neustrie et de Bourgogne)  King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) (719–721)

The last Merovingian kings, known as the lazy kings (rois fainéants), did not hold any real political power. The Mayor of the Palace governed instead. When Theuderic IV died in 737, Mayor of the Palace Charles Martel left the throne vacant and continued to rule until his own death in 741. His sons Pepin and Carloman briefly brought back the Merovingian dynasty by raising Childeric III to the throne in 743. In 751, Pepin deposed Childerich and took the throne.

 Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80pxChilderic III (Childéric III)743November 751Son of Chilperic II or of Theuderic IVKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)

Carolingian Dynasty (751–887)

Three of the twelve kings during the 147-year Carolingian Dynasty – Odo, his brother Robert I and Robert's son in law Raoul/Rudolph – were not from the Carolingian Dynasty but from the rival Robertian Dynasty. The Robertian Dynasty became the Capetian Dynasty with when Hugh Capet took the throne in 987.

{| style="width:95%;" class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:8%;"| Portrait
! style="width:20%;"| Name
! style="width:7%;"| King From
! style="width:7%;"| King Until
! style="width:15%;"| Relationship with Predecessor(s)
! style="width:10%;"| Title
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Pepin the Younger (Pépin le Bref)
| style="text-align:center;"|752
| style="text-align:center;"|24 September 768
|Son of Charles Martel
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Carloman I
| style="text-align:center;"|24 September 768
| style="text-align:center;"|4 December 771
|Son of Pepin the Short
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Charlemagne (Charles I)
| style="text-align:center;"|24 September 768
| style="text-align:center;"|28 January 814
|Son of Pepin the Short
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) Emperor of the Romans (Imperator Romanorum) (800–814)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Louis I the Pious, the Debonaire (Louis Ier le Pieux, le Débonnaire)
| style="text-align:center;"|28 January 814
| style="text-align:center;"|20 June 840
|Son of Charlemagne
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) Emperor of the Romans (Imperator Romanorum)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Charles II the Bald (Charles II le Chauve)
| style="text-align:center;"|20 June 840
| style="text-align:center;"|6 October 877
|Son of Louis I
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) Emperor of the Romans (Imperator Romanorum)  (875–877)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Louis II the Stammerer (Louis II le Bègue)
| style="text-align:center;"|6 October 877
| style="text-align:center;"|10 April 879
|Son of Charles II
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Louis III
| style="text-align:center;"|10 April 879
| style="text-align:center;"|5 August 882
|Son of Louis II
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Carloman II
| style="text-align:center;"|5 August 882
| style="text-align:center;"|6 December 884
|Son of Louis II
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Charles the Fat (Charles le Gros)
| style="text-align:center;"|20 May 885
| style="text-align:center;"|13 January 888
|Son of Louis the GermanCousin of Louis II and Carloman IIGrandson of Louis I the Pious
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs) Emperor of the Romans (Imperator Romanorum)  (881–887)

Robertian dynasty (888-898)

{| style="width:95%;" class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:8%;"| Portrait
! style="width:20%;"| Name
! style="width:7%;"| King From
! style="width:7%;"| King Until
! style="width:15%;"| Relationship with Predecessor(s)
! style="width:10%;"| Title
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Odo of Paris(Eudes de Paris)
| style="text-align:center;"|29 February 888
| style="text-align:center;"|1 January 898
|Son of Robert the Strong (Robertians)Elected king against young Charles III. 
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)

Carolingian dynasty (898-922)

{| style="width:95%;" class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:8%;"| Portrait
! style="width:20%;"| Name
! style="width:7%;"| King From
! style="width:7%;"| King Until
! style="width:15%;"| Relationship with Predecessor(s)
! style="width:10%;"| Title
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Charles III the Simple (Charles III le Simple)
| style="text-align:center;"|28 January 893
| style="text-align:center;"|30 June 922
|Posthumous son of Louis IIYounger half-brother of Louis III and Carloman II
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)

Robertian dynasty (922-923)

{| style="width:95%;" class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:8%;"| Portrait
! style="width:20%;"| Name
! style="width:7%;"| King From
! style="width:7%;"| King Until
! style="width:15%;"| Relationship with Predecessor(s)
! style="width:10%;"| Title
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Robert I(Robert Ier)
| style="text-align:center;"|30 June 922
| style="text-align:center;"|15 June 923
|Son of Robert the Strong (Robertians)Younger brother of Odo
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)

Bosonid dynasty (923-936)

 Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80pxRudolph(Raoul de France)13 July 92314 January 936Son of Richard, Duke of Burgundy (Bosonids)Son-in-law of Robert IKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)

Carolingian dynasty (936–987)
{| style="width:95%;" class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:8%;"| Portrait
! style="width:20%;"| Name
! style="width:7%;"| King From
! style="width:7%;"| King Until
! style="width:15%;"| Relationship with Predecessor(s)
! style="width:10%;"| Title
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Louis IV from overseas (Louis IV d'Outremer)
| style="text-align:center;"|19 June 936
| style="text-align:center;"|10 September 954
|Son of Charles III
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Lothair(Lothaire de France)
| style="text-align:center;"|12 November 954
| style="text-align:center;"|2 March 986
|Son of Louis IV
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|80px
| style="text-align:center;"|Louis V the Lazy (Louis V le Fainéant)
| style="text-align:center;"|8 June 986
| style="text-align:center;"|22 May 987
|Son of Lothair
| style="text-align:center;"|King of the Franks (Roi des Francs)

Capetian Dynasty (987–1792)
The Capetian Dynasty, the male-line descendants of Hugh Capet, ruled France from 987 to 1792 and again from 1814 to 1848. The branches of the dynasty which ruled after 1328 are generally called Valois and Bourbon.

Direct Capetians (987–1328)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px Hugh Capet (Hugues Capet) 3 July 98724 October 996Grandson of Robert IKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)  Robert II the Pious, the Wise (Robert II le Pieux, le Sage) 24 October 99620 July 1031Son of Hugh CapetKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80px Henry I(Henri Ier)20 July 10314 August 1060Son of Robert IIKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80px Philip I(Philippe Ier l' Amoureux)4 August 106029 July 1108Son of Henry IKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80px Louis VI the Fat (Louis VI le Gros)29 July 11081 August 1137Son of Philip IKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80px100px Louis VII the Young (Louis VII le Jeune)1 August 113718 September 1180Son of Louis VIKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)80px100px Philip II Augustus (Philippe II Auguste)18 September 118014 July 1223Son of Louis VIIKing of the Franks (Roi des Francs)King of France (Roi de France)80px100px Louis VIII the Lion (Louis VIII le Lion)14 July 12238 November 1226Son of Philip II AugustusKing of France (Roi de France)80px100px Louis IX the Saint (Saint Louis)8 November 122625 August 1270Son of Louis VIIIKing of France (Roi de France)80px100px Philip III the Bold (Philippe III le Hardi)25 August 12705 October 1285Son of Louis IXKing of France (Roi de France)100px Philip IV the Fair (Philippe IV le Bel)5 October 128529 November 1314Son of Philip IIIKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px 100pxLouis X the Quarreller (Louis X le Hutin)29 November 13145 June 1316Son of Philip IVKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px100pxJohn I the Posthumous (Jean Ier le Posthume)15 November 131620 November 1316Son of Louis X, Crowned on Birth, died aged 5 days only.King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px100pxPhilip V the Tall (Philippe V le Long)20 November 13163 January 1322Son of Philip IVYounger brother of Louis XKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px100pxCharles IV the Fair (Charles IV le Bel)3 January 13221 February 1328Son of Philip IVYounger brother of Philip VKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)

Not listed above are Hugh Magnus, eldest son of Robert II, and Philip of France, eldest son of Louis VI. Both were co-Kings with their fathers but died before them. Because neither Hugh nor Philip were sole or senior king in their own lifetimes, they are usually not listed as Kings of France.

House of Valois (1328–1589)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px 100pxPhilip VI of Valois, the Fortunate (Philippe VI de Valois, le Fortuné)1 April 132822 August 1350Son of Charles of Valois, who was son of Philip IIIKing of France (Roi de France)80px 100pxJohn II the Good (Jean II le Bon)22 August 13508 April 1364Son of Philip VIKing of France (Roi de France)80px 100pxCharles V the Wise (Charles V le Sage)8 April 136416 September 1380Son of John IIKing of France (Roi de France)80px100px Charles VI the Beloved, the Mad (Charles VI le Bienaimé, le Fol) 16 September 138021 October 1422Son of Charles VKing of France (Roi de France)Henry VI of England, Shrewsbury book.jpgHenry VI of England
(claimant)21 October 142219 October 1453Maternal grandson of Charles VI, recognized as heir after the Treaty of Troyes of 21 May 142080px100px Charles VII the Victorious, the Well-Served (Charles VII le Victorieux, le Bien-Servi) 21 October 142222 July 1461Son of Charles VIKing of France (Roi de France)80px100px Louis XI the Prudent, the Universal Spider (Louis XI le Prudent, l'Universelle Aragne) 22 July 146130 August 1483Son of Charles VIIKing of France (Roi de France)Richard III of England
(claimant)1 September 148322 August 1485 Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson of Philip IV of FranceKing of France (Roi de France)80px100px Charles VIII the Affable (Charles VIII l'Affable)30 August 14837 April 1498Son of Louis XIKing of France (Roi de France)

Valois–Orléans Branch (1498–1515)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100px Louis XII Father of the People (Louis XII le Père du Peuple) 7 April 14981 January 1515Great-grandson of Charles VSecond cousin, and by first marriage son-in-law of Louis XIBy second marriage husband of Anne of Brittany, widow of Charles VIIIKing of France (Roi de France)

Valois–Angoulême Branch (1515–1589)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100pxFrancis I the Father and Restorer of Letters (François Ier le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres)1 January 151531 March 1547Great-great-grandson of Charles VFirst cousin once removed, and by first marriage son-in-law of Louis XIIKing of France (Roi de France)80px100pxHenry II (Henri II) 31 March 154710 July 1559Son of Francis IKing of France (Roi de France)80px100pxFrancis II (François II) 10 July 15595 December 1560 Son of Henry II
 Became king at 15
 Married Mary Queen of ScotsKing of France (Roi de France) King of Scots (1558–1560)80px100pxCharles IX5 December 156030 May 1574Son of Henry IIYounger brother of Francis IIKing of France (Roi de France)80px100px Henry III (Henri III)30 May 15742 August 1589Son of Henry IIYounger brother of Charles IXKing of France (Roi de France) King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1573–1575)

House of Bourbon (1589–1792)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100px Henry IV, Good King Henry, the Green Gallant (Henri IV, le Bon Roi Henri, le Vert-Galant) 2 August 158914 May 1610Tenth generation descendant of Louis IX in the male lineGrandnephew of Francis ISecond cousin, and by first marriage brother-in-law of Francis II, Charles IX and Henry IIIKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px100px Louis XIII the Just (Louis XIII le Juste)  14 May 161014 May 1643Son of Henry IVKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px100px Louis XIV the Great, the Sun King (Louis XIV le Grand, le Roi Soleil)14 May 16431 September 1715Son of Louis XIIIKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px100px Louis XV the Beloved (Louis XV le Bien-Aimé)1 September 171510 May 1774Great-grandson of Louis XIVKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80px100px Louis XVI the Restorer of the French Liberty(Louis XVI le Restaurateur de la Liberté Française)10 May 177421 September 1792Grandson of Louis XVKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) (1774–1791)  King of the French (Roi des Français) (1791–1792)

From 21 January 1793 to 8 June 1795, Louis XVI's son Louis-Charles was titled King of France as Louis XVII. In reality, he was imprisoned in the Temple during this time. His power was held by the leaders of the Republic. On Louis XVII's death, his uncle Louis-Stanislas claimed the throne, as Louis XVIII. He was only de facto King of France in 1814.

First Republic (1792–1804)
The First French Republic lasted from 1792 to 1804, when its First Consul, Napoleon Bonaparte, declared himself Emperor of the French.

House of Bonaparte, First Empire (1804–1814)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name Emperor From Emperor Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100pxNapoleon I(Napoléon Ier)18 May 180411 April 1814-Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français)

House of Bourbon, Bourbon Restoration (1814–1815)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100pxLouis XVIII11 April 181420 March 1815Younger brother of Louis XVI/ uncle of Louis XVIIKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)

House of Bonaparte, First Empire (Hundred Days, 1815)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name Emperor From Emperor Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100pxNapoleon I (Napoléon Ier)20 March 181522 June 1815-Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français)80px100pxNapoleon II(Napoléon II)From 22 June to 7 July 1815, Bonapartists considered Napoleon II as the legitimate heir to the throne, his father having abdicated in his favor. However, the young child's reign was entirely fictional, as he was residing in Austria with his mother. Louis XVIII was reinstalled as king on 7 July.22 June 18157 July 1815Son of Napoleon IEmperor of the French (Empereur des Français)

House of Bourbon (1815–1830)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100pxLouis XVIII7 July 181516 September 1824Younger brother of Louis XVI/ uncle of Louis XVIIKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)80 px100pxCharles X16 September 18242 August 1830Younger brother of Louis XVIIIKing of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre)

The elder son of Charles X, the Dauphin Louis-Antoine, is sometimes said to have legally been the King of France as Louis XIX. This is in the 20 minutes between Charles X's formal signature of abdication and the Dauphin's own signature.
Henri d'Artois, Charles X's grandson, is said by monarchists to be the King of France, as Henry V from 2 August 1830 to 9 August 1830. He was never recognized by the French State. He is generally not in lists of official French monarchs.

There was a brief period (20 March 1815 to 8 July 1815) called the Hundred Days in which Louis XVIII was king somewhat before the time, but fled because of Napoleon I's return from Elba

House of Orléans, July Monarchy (1830–1848)
 PortraitCoat of Arms Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title80px100pxLouis Phillippe
(the Citizen King) 9 August 183024 February 1848Sixth generation descendant of Louis XIII in the male lineFifth cousin of Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles XKing of the French (Roi des Français)

Second Republic (1848–1852)
The Second French Republic lasted from 1848 to 1852, when its president, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, was declared Emperor of the French.

House of Bonaparte, Second Empire (1852–1870)
PortraitCoat of ArmsNameEmperor FromEmperor UntilRelationship with Predecessor(s)Title80px 100pxNapoleon III(Napoléon III)2 December 18524 September 1870Nephew of Napoleon IEmperor of the French (Empereur des Français)

President of the French Republic

(President de la Français)

Heads of State following 1871
The chronology of Head of State of France continues with the Presidents of France. There were short-term periods by the Chief of State of the French State (1940–1944), the Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944–1946) and the President of the French Senate (1969 and 1974) during the Fifth Republic.

References

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Category:Lists of monarchs
Category:Monarchs in Europe
Category:French monarchs