Dauphin of France

The Dauphin was the heir apparent to the throne of France from 1350–1791, and from 1824–1830. 

History
Guy VIII, Count of Vienne, had a dolphin on his coat of arms and had been nicknamed le Dauphin (French for dolphin). The title of Dauphin of Viennois descended in his family until 1349, when Humbert II sold his signeurie, called the Dauphiné, to King Philippe VI on condition that the heir of France assumed the title of le Dauphin and govern this territory.Roland Mousnier, The Institutions of France Under the Absolute Monarchy, 1598-1789, Vol. 2 (Chicago; London: University of Chicago, 1984), p. 4 The Dauphin retained the title only.Encyclopædia Americana, Vol. 4, eds. Francis Lieber; Edward Wigglesworth; Thomas Gamaliel Bradford (Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, 1830), p. 129 The estates belonged to the crown. On the death of the Dauphin, his eldest son inherits the title. If there is no son, his oldest brother succeeds him. If the king does not have a son the title does not go to anyone. It is never given to a brother of the king. The wife of the Dauphin was known as the Dauphine. The first French Dauphin was Charles V. The title is roughly equivalent to the English title Prince of Wales. The Dauphin was entitled to the use of the style of Royal Highness but this was only ever used in written form.

The title of Dauphin of Auvergne was used by the Count of Clermont. 

 Dauphins of France, 1349–1830 

 Charles V of France 1349–1364
 Charles, eldest son and heir of Charles V; future Charles VI 1368–1380
 Charles 1389
 Charles 1392–1401
 Louis, 1401–1415
 John, 1415–1417
 Charles VII of France  1417–1422
 Louis XI of France 1423–1461
 Charles VIII of France 1470–1483
 Edward of Middleham (disputed) 1483–1484
 Charles Orland 1492–1495
 Charles 1496
 François 1497–1498
 François 1518–1536
 Henry II of France 1536–1547
 Francis II of France 1547–1559
 Louis XIII of France 1601–1610
 Louis XIV of France 1638–1643
 Louis, Grand Dauphin 1661–1711
 Louis, Petit Dauphin 1711-1712
 Louis 1712
 Louis XV of France 1712–1715
 Louis 1729–1765
 Louis XVI of France 1765–1774
 Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France 1781–1789
 Louis XVII of France 1789–1791 (in 1791 his title was changed to "Prince Royal")
 Louis XIX of France 1824–1830

Related pages
Prince of Wales
Titles of European royal heirs

 References 


Category:Ranks in the old Kingdom of France
Category:Titles in the old Kingdom of France