The Bourban Monarchs            The Bourbon line was founded by Robert of Clermont, who was one of the sons of Louis IX of France, and Beatrice Heiress of Bourbon. The ducal title remained until the lineage was taken up by a younger son of Louis IX, Antoine de Bourbon, duc de Vendôme, married Jeanne d'Albret creating the Bourbon-Vendôme lineage and in the process adding a large amount of territory and the title of King of Navarre to the existing power of the Bourbons. Antoine's son became the first Bourbon king of France, Henry IV, when other branches of Louis IX's lineage ended. The Bourbons ruled France until 1830 when Charles X was deposed. The elder line of Bourbon monarchs ended when Louis XIV's brother Phillip's line, the Bourbon-Orléans, claimed the French Crown in 1883, allowing Louis Philippe to come to power. The Bourbons were important because members of their lineage accomplished many important things in France's history. Henry IV united the whole France under one flag. Louis XIV, the Sun King, made France into an extremely powerful constitutional monarchy, proving his country's power by building Versailles. Louis XV ruined the reputation of the monarchy, and Louis XVI's death threatened the lineage's reign when he was guillotined in the Place de Concord. When Napoleon was defeated the coalition brought Louis XVIII to power.
Home