The Kingdom of France () was a medieval and early modern monarchy in Western Europe. It was one of the most powerful states in Europe and a great power since the Late Middle Ages and the Hundred Years' War. It was also an early colonial power, with possessions around the world.

France originated as West Francia ("Francia Occidentalis"), the western half of the Carolingian Empire, with the Treaty of Verdun (843). A branch of the Carolingian dynasty continued to rule until 987, when Hugh Capet was elected king and founded the Capetian dynasty. The territory remained known as "Francia" and its ruler as "rex Francorum" ("king of the Franks") well into the High Middle Ages. The first king calling himself "Roi de France" ("King of France") was Philip II, in 1190. France continued to be ruled by the Capetians and their cadet linesthe Valois and Bourbonuntil the monarchy was overthrown in 1792 during the French Revolution.

France in the Middle Ages was a de-centralised, feudal monarchy. In Brittany and Catalonia (now a part of Spain) the authority of the French king was barely felt. Lorraine and Provence were states of the Holy Roman Empire and not yet a part of France. Initially, West Frankish kings were elected by the secular and ecclesiastic magnates, but the regular coronation of the eldest son of the reigning king during his father's lifetime established the principle of male primogeniture, which became codified in the Salic law. During the Late Middle Ages, the Kings of England laid claim to the French throne, resulting in a series of conflicts known as the Hundred Years' War (13371453). Subsequently, France sought to extend its influence into Italy, but was defeated by Spain in the ensuing Italian Wars (14941559).

Answer this series of questions:

1. Who was the first king?
2. What was the territory known as during the High Middle Ages?
3. and in the year 843?
4. What empire was it a part of?
5. How long did parts of that dynasty rule?
6. What did Capet create that ended that?
7. What did the leaders there call themselves?
8. Which means?
9. But what did Philip II call himself?
10. What happened in 1792?
11. Which lines ruled until then?
12. What's one state that was part of the Holy Roman Empire and not France?
13. When was France decentralized?
14. What two places didn't really pay any attention to the French king?
15. Where would we find those places today?
16. When was the Hundred Years' War?
17. Whose actions started that long conflict?
18. What were they trying to take as their own?
19. In early colonial days, did France have property all over the world?
20. Was it a monarchy or a dictatorship?
1. Hugh Capet
2. Francia
3. West Francia
4. Carolingian
5. until 987
6. the Capetian dynasty
7. rex Francorum
8. king of the Franks
9. Roi de France
10. the monarchy was overthrown
11. the Valois and Bourbon
12. Lorraine
13. the Middle Ages
14. Brittany and Catalonia
15. Spain
16. ate Middle Ages
17. Kings of England
18. the French throne,
19. yes
20. monarchy