House of Bourbon
In 1272, Robert, Count of Clermont, youngest son of King Louis IX of France, married Beatrix of Bourbon. This union created the House of Bourbon as a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty. The estate of Bourbon had been ruled by the Sire de Bourbon since at least the beginning of the thirteenth century. Robert became lord of Bourbon through his wife's inheritance from the House of Bourbon-Dampierre. Their son Louis was made Duke of Bourbon in 1327. The house continued for three centuries as nobles under direct Capetian and Valois kings. A senior line existed until Charles III, Duke of Bourbon died in 1527 while fighting under Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His death in exile ended that specific branch. James I, Count of La Marche, younger son of Louis I, Duke of Bourbon, led the surviving line after 1438. All future Bourbons descended from Louis, who became Count of Vendôme through his mother's inheritance.
Henry IV of France was born on the 13th of December 1553 in the Kingdom of Navarre. He was baptized Catholic but raised Calvinist. After his father Antoine de Bourbon was killed in 1562, he became Duke of Vendôme at age ten. Admiral Gaspard de Coligny served as his regent. Seven years later, young Henry became nominal leader of the Huguenots following the death of his uncle the Prince de Condé in 1569. He succeeded to Navarre as Henry III when his mother died in 1572. Catherine de' Medici arranged his marriage to Margaret of Valois to advance peace between Catholics and Huguenots. Many Huguenots gathered in Paris for the wedding on the 24th of August but were ambushed and slaughtered by Catholics in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Henry saved his life by converting to Catholicism. He repudiated this conversion in 1576 and resumed leadership of the Huguenots. Extended civil war erupted again in 1584 when François, Duke of Anjou, younger brother of King Henry III of France, died. This began the War of the Three Henrys. After Henry III was assassinated on the 31st of July 1589, Navarre claimed the throne as first Bourbon king of France. Much of Catholic France refused to recognize a Protestant monarch. Henry won a crucial victory at Ivry on the 14th of March 1590. He reconvened to Catholicism in 1593 and was crowned king retroactively to 1589 at the Cathedral of Chartres on the 27th of February 1594.
Louis XIV succeeded his father at four years of age. His mother Anne served as regent with Jules Cardinal Mazarin as chief minister. When Louis was seven, Nicolas de Neufville de Villeroy became governor. The main childhood places of Louis XIV were the Palais-Royal and nearby Hôtel de Villeroy. Mazarin continued Richelieu's policies bringing the Thirty Years' War to successful conclusion in 1648. He defeated nobility challenge to royal absolutism in civil wars known as Frondes. He continued war with Spain until 1659 when Treaty of Pyrenees was signed. That treaty called for arranged marriage between Louis and cousin Maria Theresa daughter of Philip IV of Spain. They married in 1660 and had son Louis in 1661. Mazarin died on the 9th of March 1661. Louis shocked country by announcing he would rule alone without another chief minister. For six years Louis reformed state finances and built formidable armed forces. France fought series of wars from 1667 onward gaining territory on northern and eastern borders. Maria Theresa died in 1683. Next year he secretly married devoutly Catholic Françoise d'Aubigné Marquise de Maintenon. Louis began persecuting Protestants undoing religious tolerance established by grandfather Henry IV. This culminated in revocation of Edict of Nantes in 1685.
Louis XVI became Dauphin upon death of his father Louis son of Louis XV in 1765. He married Marie Antoinette of Austria daughter of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa in 1770. Louis intervened in American Revolution against Britain in 1778. France was in financial turmoil forcing him to convene Estates-General on the 5th of May 1789. They formed National Assembly and forced Louis to accept constitution limiting powers on the 14th of July 1789. He tried to flee France in June 1791 but was captured. French monarchy abolished on the 21st of September 1792 when republic proclaimed. Louis XVI executed on the 21st of January 1793. His wife and son held as prisoners. Many French royalists proclaimed him Louis XVII though he never reigned. He died of tuberculosis on the 8th of June 1795 at age ten while in captivity. With abdication of Napoleon on the 11th of April 1814 Bourbon dynasty restored to Kingdom of France in person of Louis XVIII brother of Louis XVI. Napoleon escaped from exile and Louis fled March 1815. Louis again restored after Battle of Waterloo on the 7th of July 1815. Conservative elements dominated post-Napoleonic age but values of French Revolution could not be easily swept aside. Louis granted constitution on the 14th of June 1814 to appease liberals. Ultra-royalist party led by his brother Charles continued influencing reign. When he died in 1824 brother became king as Charles X much to dismay of French liberals.
Philip V born in 1683 at Versailles second son of Grand Dauphin who eldest son of Louis XIV. King Charles II of Spain dying without issue willed throne to grand-nephew Duke of Anjou. Prospect of Bourbons on both French and Spanish thrones resisted creating imbalance power in Europe by its powers. Upon Charles II death on the 1st of November 1700 Grand Alliance European nations united against Philip. This known as War of Spanish Succession. In Treaty Utrecht signed the 11th of April 1713 Philip recognized king of Spain but renunciation succession rights France affirmed. Sicily ceded Savoy Spanish Netherlands Milan Naples allotted Austrian Habsburgs. Philip married Elisabeth Farnese niece Francesco Farnese Duke Parma 1714 after first wife death. She presented Philip three sons for whom she had ambitions securing Italian crowns. She induced Philip occupy Sardinia Sicily 1717. Quadruple Alliance Britain France Austria Netherlands organized the 2nd of August 1718 stop him. Treaty Hague signed the 17th of February 1720 Philip renounced conquests Sardinia Sicily assured ascension eldest son Elisabeth Duchy Parma upon reigning duke death. Philip abdicated January 1724 favor Louis I eldest son with first wife. Louis died August Philip resumed crown.
Ferdinand IV forced flee Naples 1806 when Napoleon Bonaparte deposed him installing brother Joseph king. Ferdinand continued rule from Sicily until 1815. Napoleon conquered Parma 1800 compensated Bourbon duke Etruria new kingdom created Grand Duchy Tuscany. It counted only two monarchs Louis and Louis II as Napoleon annexed Etruria 1807. Upon fall French Empire Ferdinand restored throne Naples forming Kingdom Two Sicilies 1816 founding House Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Subjects revolted 1820 he forced grant constitution. Austria invaded March 1821 request revoked constitution. He succeeded son Francis 1825 grandson Ferdinand 1830. Revolution Sicily erupted January 1848 Ferdinand also forced grant constitution. Constitution revoked 1849. Ferdinand succeeded son Francis May 1859. When Giuseppe Garibaldi captured Naples 1860 Francis restored constitution attempt save sovereignty. He fled fortress Gaeta besieged captured Piedmontese troops February 1861. Kingdom incorporated Kingdom Italy the 17th of March 1861 after fall fortress Messina surrendered the 12th of March though Neapolitan troops Civitella del Tronto resisted three days longer. After fall Napoleon wife Maria Louisa made Duchess Parma. Compensation Charles Louis former king Etruria made Duke Lucca. When Maria Louisa died 1847 restored Parma Charles II. Lucca incorporated Tuscany. Succeeded son Charles III grandson Robert I 1854. People Parma voted union Kingdom Sardinia 1860. After Italian unification next year Bourbon dynasty Italy no more.
Ferdinand VII restored throne Spain March 1814. Like Italian Bourbon counterpart subjects revolted January 1820 he forced grant constitution. French army invaded 1823 constitution revoked. Ferdinand married fourth wife Maria Christina daughter Francis I Bourbon king Two Sicilies 1829. Despite many marriages did not have son so 1833 influenced wife abolish Salic Law daughter Isabella become queen depriving brother Don Carlos throne. Isabella succeeded father when died 1833 only three years old. Maria Cristina regent. She needed support liberals oppose Don Carlos granted constitution 1834. Don Carlos found greatest support Catalonia Basque country constitution centralized provinces denying autonomy sought. He defeated fled country 1839. Isabella declared age 1843 married cousin Francisco de Asís son father's brother the 10th of October 1846. Military revolution broke out against Isabella 1868 she deposed the 29th of September 1868. Abdicated favor son Alfonso 1870 but Spain proclaimed republic brief time. When First Spanish Republic failed crown offered Isabella's son accepted the 1st of January 1875 as Alfonso XII. Carlist pretender Don Carlos returned Spain defeated resumed exile February 1876. Alfonso granted new constitution July 1876 more liberal one granted grandmother. Reign cut short when died 1885 age twenty-eight. Alfonso XIII born the 17th of May 1886 after death father. Mother Maria Christina second wife Alfonso XII served regent. Alfonso XIII declared age 1902 married Victoria Eugenie Battenberg granddaughter British Queen Victoria the 31st of May 1906.
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Common questions
When was the House of Bourbon founded and by whom?
The House of Bourbon was created in 1272 when Robert, Count of Clermont married Beatrix of Bourbon. This union established the house as a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty.
Who became the first Bourbon king of France and when did he claim the throne?
Henry IV claimed the throne as the first Bourbon king of France after Henry III was assassinated on the 31st of July 1589. He was crowned king retroactively to 1589 at the Cathedral of Chartres on the 27th of February 1594.
What happened to Louis XIV after Cardinal Mazarin died on the 9th of March 1661?
Louis XIV announced he would rule alone without another chief minister after Cardinal Mazarin died on the 9th of March 1661. For six years he reformed state finances and built formidable armed forces before fighting series of wars from 1667 onward.
How did the Bourbon dynasty end in Italy and when did this occur?
The Bourbon dynasty ended in Italy after Italian unification when people Parma voted for union with Kingdom Sardinia in 1860. The Kingdom Two Sicilies was incorporated into Kingdom Italy on the 17th of March 1861 following the fall of fortress Messina.
When did Philip V become King of Spain and what war followed his succession?
Philip V became King of Spain upon the death of Charles II on the 1st of November 1700. This event triggered the War of Spanish Succession as European nations united against him due to fears of a power imbalance.