Kingdom of France

The Kingdom of France is the name given to the country of France during the medieval and early modern times. It was one of the strongest countries in Europe from the High Middle Ages until 1848, when it ended. France was also an early colonial power, with colonies in Asia, Africa, and North America. Its largest colony was called New France, centered around the Great Lakes.

The Kingdom of France began as part of the western Frankish realm of the Carolingian Empire, given to Charles the Bald with the Treaty of Verdun in 843. In 987, Hugh Capet became king and started the Capetian dynasty. The kings ruled continuously from this time, first as Capetians and later as the Valois and Bourbon families, until the monarchy ended in 1792 during the French Revolution.

During the Middle Ages, France was a feudal monarchy, meaning power was spread out among local lords. The French king had less control in places like Brittany, Normandy, and Aquitaine. One big struggle was the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) against the kings of England, who claimed the French throne. After winning this war, France grew stronger and later became a superpower under King Louis XIV in the 17th century.

In the early modern era, France became more centralized, with the French language becoming more important. The country also faced religious divides between Catholics and Protestants, called the Huguenots, leading to civil wars known as the Wars of Religion (1562–1598). France also built a colonial empire but lost many of its North American colonies to Great Britain by 1763. The Kingdom of France ended after the French Revolution in 1789, which led to the creation of the French First Republic in 1792.

Political history

West Francia

After the rule of Charlemagne ended in 814, his successors could not keep the empire united. The Treaty of Verdun in 843 split the empire into three parts. Charles the Bald became the ruler of West Francia, which would later develop into the kingdom of France. Charles the Bald also became King of Lotharingia after the death of Lothair II in 869, but he had to give up much of it in the Treaty of Meerssen in 870.

Viking attacks along rivers like the Loire and the Seine increased. During the rule of Charles the Simple from 898 to 922, Vikings from Scandinavia, led by Rollo, settled along the Seine near Paris. This area became known as Normandy.

High Middle Ages

The Carolingian dynasty ended, and in 987, Hugh Capet, Duke of France and Count of Paris, became king, starting the Capetian dynasty. This dynasty, including its branches the Valois and Bourbon, would rule France for over 800 years. At first, the Capetians controlled only a small area around the middle Seine, while powerful local lords controlled larger areas. The lower Seine area became important when William of Normandy took over England in 1066, making himself almost equal to the French king.

Henry II of England married Eleanor of Aquitaine, who ruled much of southwest France, in 1152. After dealing with revolts by Eleanor and their sons, Henry ruled much of western France. However, disputes among Henry's descendants and conflicts between John of England and Philip II of France allowed Philip to regain control over most of this territory. After the French victory at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214, the English kept only southwestern Aquitaine.

Late Middle Ages and the Hundred Years' War

The death of Charles IV in 1328 without a male heir ended the main Capetian line. The throne passed to Philip VI under Salic law, which did not allow the crown to pass through women. This, along with disputes over Gascony and tensions between England and Flanders, led to the Hundred Years' War from 1337 to 1453. This long war brought great suffering, including peasant revolts and the spread of the Black Death plague, which arrived from Italy in 1348 and reduced France's population by about half over 150 years.

Renaissance and Reformation

The Renaissance brought a flourishing of culture, especially in Paris, with strong traditions in literature, art, and music. King Francis I signed the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts in 1539, which required the use of the French language in official documents.

Italian Wars

After the Hundred Years' War, Charles VIII of France began the Italian Wars from 1494 to 1559, aiming to gain dominance in Italy but instead increasing the power of the Habsburg family.

Wars of Religion

France faced internal conflict due to the Protestant Reformation. A minority group called Huguenots faced harsh treatment. This led to the Wars of Religion, with conflicts between Catholic and Protestant forces. The wars ended when Henry IV, who was originally Protestant, became king and issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598, granting Huguenots some rights.

Early modern period

Colonial France

Under Henry IV, France began to expand its influence. They started trading in India and Madagascar, founded Quebec, and explored the Great Lakes and Mississippi River in North America. They also established colonies in the West Indies and expanded trade in the Levant.

Thirty Years' War

Louis XIII and his minister Cardinal Richelieu worked against Spain and the Holy Roman Empire during the Thirty Years' War from 1618 to 1648. After their deaths, the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ended the war but led to civil unrest in France known as the Fronde from 1648 to 1653.

Louis XIV, the Sun King

Louis XIV ruled from 1643 to 1715 and made France the most powerful country in Europe. He built up the French navy and army, and expanded France's borders through several wars. He wanted to control everything and brought nobles to live at his grand Palace of Versailles to keep them peaceful. He also tried to make everyone follow the same religion, which caused many people to leave France.

Dissent and revolution

The reign of Louis XV was marked by peace at first but later saw costly wars and growing unhappiness with the monarchy. After Louis XV died in 1774, his grandson Louis XVI became king. However, he faced huge debts and protests. By 1789, France was in deep crisis, leading to the French Revolution.

Limited monarchy

In 1791, the monarchy was limited to a constitutional form, but this did not last. In 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and King Louis XVI was executed in 1793. This led to the French First Republic and many changes in France.

Restoration

After the French Revolution and Napoleon's rule, the monarchy was restored in 1814 with Louis XVIII as king. He tried to balance the changes from the Revolution with the old traditions. However, his brother Charles X, who became king in 1824, wanted to bring back absolute rule, leading to unrest. In 1830, Charles X tried to limit the power of Parliament, which caused the July Revolution. The people elected Louis Philippe as king, marking the start of the July Monarchy.

Despite some reforms, Louis Philippe faced opposition and financial troubles. In 1848, protests led to another revolution, ending the monarchy and beginning the Second Republic.

Territories and provinces

Main article: Provinces of France

Further information: Territorial evolution of France

Before the 13th century, only a small part of what is now France was ruled by the Frankish king. In the north, Viking attacks led to the creation of the Duchy of Normandy. In the west, the counts of Anjou became strong rivals of the king and ruled over the "Angevin Empire", which included the Kingdom of England. It was Philip II of France who brought most of Western Francia under the rule of the Frankish kings. He was the first to call himself "king of France" in 1190. The split between the Angevin (Plantagenet) kings of England and the Capetian kings of France caused the Hundred Years' War. France only regained control of these areas in the mid-15th century. Eastern France (Lorraine, Arelat) was added to the kingdom during the early modern period.

Religion

The Kingdom of France had a special relationship with the Catholic Church. Before the French Revolution, the Catholic Church was the official religion of the kingdom. The king of France worked closely with the Pope and was given the title Most Christian Majesty in 1464.

In the 1500s, many people in France became Protestant, following the ideas of John Calvin. This led to conflicts known as the French Wars of Religion. Later, the Edict of Nantes brought peace for a time before being canceled in the late 1600s.

Jews have a long history in France, dating back to the early Middle Ages. They faced difficult times and were often treated unfairly throughout this period.

Fundamental laws

Main article: Fundamental laws of the Kingdom of France

The Kingdom of France had special rules and laws that guided how the country was run. These rules were important and helped shape the way leaders made decisions and how people lived together. They were part of what made the Kingdom of France unique and helped it grow over many years.