The French State

The history of the French state dates back to the Germanic invasions of the fifth century and the conversion of Clovis to Catholic Christianity in 496. Merovingians were replaced by the Carolingian dynasty. Charlesmagne ruled over a Frankish Empire which included not only modern day France but also Germany and most of Italy north of Rome. When this Carolingian Empire disintegrated in the ninth century, France constituted the Western portion of the old Empire. From 987 to 1328, it was ruled by the Capetian dynasty. Thereafter, the Valois dynasty ruled until 1589. Towards the end of that dynasty, religious conflict divided the country. About one tenth of the people, many belonging to the nobility and bourgeoisie, had converted to the Huguenot brand of Protestantism. Civil war divided France until Henry of Navarre, the leader of the Protestant forces, became king and converted to Catholicism. As Henry IV, the issued the Edict of Nantes granting religious independence to the Huguenots in their own fortified towns.

The Great Lords of France at the time of the Capetians: ; Counts of Flanders, Maine, Anjou, Blois, and Toulouse

CAPETIAN DYNASTY:

     HUGH CAPET, 987-996

     ROBERT II, 996-1031

     HENRY I, 1031-1060

     PHILIP I, 1060-1108

     LOUIS VI, 1108-1137

     LOUIS VII, 1137-1180

     PHILIP II (AUGUSTUS) 1180-1223

     LOUIS VIII, 1123-1126

     LOUIS IX, 1226-1270

     PHILIP III, 1270-1285

     PHILIP IV (THE FAIR) 1285-1314

     LOUIS X, 1314-1316

     PHILIP V, 1316-1322

     CHARLES IV, 1322-1328

VALOIS DYNASTY:

     PHILIP VI, 1328-1350

     JOHN, 1350-1364

     CHARLES V, 1364-1380

     CHARLES VI, 1380-1422

     CHARLES VII, 1422-1461

     LOUIS XI, 1461-1483

     CHARLES VIII,1483-1498

     LOUIS XII, 1498-1515

     FRANCIS I, ? 1515-1547 ?

FRANCIS I, 1517 - 1547
HENRY II, 1547 - 1559, died of lance blow in the eye at a tournament
FRANCIS II, 1559 - 1560, aged 15 when he became king
CHARLES IX, 1560 - 1574, aged 9 when he became king
HENRY III, 1574-1589

BOURBON DYNASTY

HENRY IV of France, 1553-1610, king of France (1589-1610)

LOUIS XIII, 1601-1643, king of France (1610 - 1643), son of Henry IV

LOUIS XIV, 1638–1715, king of France (1643–1715), son of Louis XIII, personal rule after 1661

LOUIS XV, 1710–74, king of France (1715–74), great-grandson of King Louis XIV

LOUIS XVI, 1754–93, king of France (1774–92), third son of the dauphin (Louis) and Marie Josèphe of Saxony, grandson and successor of King Louis XV. Executed in 1792.

FRENCH REVOLUTION

ESTATES GENERAL, 1789
NATIONAL (CONSTITUENT) ASSEMBLY, 1789 - 1791
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 1791 - 1792
NATIONAL CONVENTION, 1792 - 1795
    Convention Abolishes the Monarchy, September 21, 1792
    King Louis XVI is guillotined on January 21, 1793
    Thermidorean Reaction
DIRECTORY, 1795 -1799
NAPOLEON
CONSULATE, 1799 - 1804
EMPIRE, 1804 - 1814
HUNDRED DAYS, March 1, 1815 - June 18, 1815

RESTORATION OF THE BOURBONS

LOUIS XVIII, 1814 - 1824
CHARLES X, 1824 - 1830

REVOLUTION OF 1830 and THE  ORLEANIST MONARCHY

LOUIS PHILIPPE, 1830 - 1848

REVOLUTION OF 1848  and THE SECOND FRENCH REPUBLIC, 1848 - 1851

SECOND EMPIRE

NAPOLEON III, 1851 - 1870

THIRD REPUBLIC, 1871 - 1941

VICHY FRANCE, 1941 - 1944

FOURTH REPUBLIC, 1944 - 1958

FIFTH REPUBLIC 1958 -

SEE : List of French Monarchs with Links to their biography.
 http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_monarchs