Kings of France

Kings of France – The French Monarchy

Kings of France: France wasn’t built overnight. It was shaped, polished, cracked, and rebuilt by centuries of kings and queens who ruled with iron fists, velvet gloves, or sometimes both. From battlefield conquerors to art-loving patrons, the monarchs of France didn’t just rule a land, indeed, they defined its soul. Enjoy a private guided tour in Paris about the kings of France.

Why the Kings of France Still Matter

Ever walked through Paris and felt history whispering from stone walls? That’s the monarchy talking. French kings and queens laid the foundations of Paris, defined borders, sponsored art, shaped religion, and even sparked revolutions. Their choices still echo today.

Dynasties and Kings of France That Shaped the Nation

From the Merovingians to the Carolingians, Capetians, Bourbons, and Bonapartes, each dynasty passed the crown like a torch—sometimes carefully, sometimes violently.

King of France Private Guided Tours, tailored to your interests

Explore Paris through the eyes of its rulers with Paris by Emy – King of France Private Tours in Paris, where royal history comes alive street by street. Each private tour is fully tailored to your interests, blending iconic landmarks, hidden stories, and insider insights into an unforgettable, personalized journey through France’s royal past.

The Birth of France with Frankish Kings

Clovis I – Founder of the Frankish Kingdom

Born around 466 AD, Clovis I of the Merovingian dynasty is the first King of France—though France didn’t quite exist yet.

Birthdate, Dynasty, and Religious Legacy

Clovis’s real power move? Converting to Christianity around 496 AD. That single decision aligned the monarchy with the Church, making religion a cornerstone of French identity. His baptism laid the groundwork for France as the “eldest daughter of the Church.”

Clovis, the First Christian King, in the 5th Century

Clovis I (c. 465–511), King of the Franks, is the founder of the French monarchy. He was the first ruler of what would become France to convert to Christianity, a decision that had a lasting impact on both French history and the Christian world.

Clovis was married to Clotilde, a Catholic Burgundian princess, whose faith influenced him deeply. He was baptized in the Cathedral of Reims in the Champagne region by the bishop Saint Remigius (Saint Rémi), most likely on Christmas Day between 496 and 498. With this baptism, the king symbolically chose to rule under the authority of the Christian God, establishing a strong link between the monarchy and the Church in Paris.

Clovis also choose Paris for the capital of his kingdom and laid the foundations of royal power and political unity that would shape the future French state.

Clovis’s baptism is one of the most important events in the history of the French monarchy and of Western Christianity. The ceremony at Reims set a powerful tradition: for centuries, French kings were crowned in the same cathedral, reinforcing the sacred nature of their authority.

From the early Middle Ages onward, nearly all French kings were crowned at Reims Cathedral — a tradition that continued until the coronation of Charles X in 1825, with only a few exceptions.

Clovis’s conversion marked the beginning of France’s identity as a Christian kingdom and forged a lasting alliance between the crown and the Church.

The Carolingian Kings of France Vision

Charlemagne – Emperor of the West

Born in 742, Charlemagne wasn’t just a king—he was crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800.

Empire, Culture, and Christian Europe

Under the Carolingian dynasty, Charlemagne expanded territories, standardized education, and promoted Christian unity. While Paris wasn’t yet the star, his reign shaped Europe like a master architect drafting a blueprint.

Charlemagne (740 – 814) the king who became emperor

The fall of Rome brings chaos to Western Europe. Carolus Magnus, better known as Charlemagne, sought at all costs to impose radical cultural, economic and religious changes. In nearly half a century of reign, Charlemagne dug the foundations of a new world. He is one of the rare personalities who have influenced the course of universal history.

The king legislated extensively, to improve the daily management of agricultural estates, to impose ecclesiastical reforms and to conform morals – particularly marriage – to Christian canons. He took care to put laws and ordinances in writing to better ensure their application. Its legal texts are called “capitularies” because they are divided into articles or chapters, like current laws. Charlemagne introduced administrative reforms throughout the lands he controlled, establishing key representatives in each region and holding a general assembly each year at his court at Aachen. He standardised weights, measures and customs dues, which helped improve commerce and initiated important legal reforms.

Attentive to religious affairs, Charles, very pious, also took pride in supporting the Pope, head of Western Christianity. In 800 a rebellion against Pope Leo III began. Charlemagne went to his aid in Rome and defeated the rebellion. As a token of thanks, Leo crowned Charlemagne on Christmas Day that year, declaring him emperor of the Romans. Although this did not give Charlemagne any new powers, it legitimised his rule over his Italian territories and attempted to revive the imperial tradition of the western Roman emperor.

The personal reign of Charles I, very long (44 years), was an incessant series of wars against the pagan Saxons of Germany, the Bretons and the Muslims of Spain, who threatened his kingdom on its borders, as well as against the Lombards who threaten the pope. Charlemagne died in 814. His empire did not long outlive him.

The Capetian Kings of France Rise

Philippe Auguste – Builder of Medieval France

Born in 1165, Philippe II, known as Philippe Auguste, ruled under the Capetian dynasty.

Paris as a Political Capital thanks to King Philippe Auguste

He fortified Paris, built the original Louvre fortress, and expanded royal authority. Think of him as the king who turned Paris from a town into a true capital.

Philip Augustus (1165-1223) The Louvre, Paris Churches and City

Seventh king of the Capetian dynasty, Philip II known as “Philip Augustus”. King at the age of 15, he was the ruler for 42 years. King Philippe Auguste is one of the emblematic monarchs of medieval France.

Philip was crowned in Reims in his fourteenth year, on November 1, 1179. It took place during the lifetime of his father Louis VII the Young. The following year, on April 28, 1180, he was married to Isabelle of Hainaut, who brought him Artois, Arras and Saint-Omer as a dowry. As his father died on September 18, he was now the sole ruler of France under the name of Philip II.

Despite his marital setbacks, despite also his nervous fragility, he would prove to be a great sovereign through his administrative work and his conquests. He would earn a quadruple of the royal domain. Moreover, he would sometimes earn the nickname the Conqueror. Indeed, Philip Augustus successfully fought the kings of England, Henry II Plantagenet and his sons Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland, who, through their continental possessions (Normandy, Anjou, Aquitaine, etc.), posed a very direct threat to his authority.

The Louvre Palace was a fortified castle built by King Philip Augustus between 1190 and 1202. The goal was to reinforce the wall he had built around Paris to protect the city. It was demolished in stages to make way for the Louvre Palace.

Saints and Kings of France

Saint Louis (Louis IX) – Justice and Faith

Born in 1214, Louis IX earned sainthood for a reason.

Religion, Law, and Moral Kingship

He reformed laws, strengthened royal justice, and built Sainte-Chapelle in Paris—a jewel box of stained glass. His reign proved that power and piety could coexist.

King Saint Louis (13th Century) and the Catholic Church

Louis IX, known as Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 to 1270 and a member of the Capetian dynasty. He is remembered as one of France’s most respected medieval rulers, admired for his deep faith, sense of justice, and commitment to peace. During his reign, he strengthened royal authority while presenting himself as a protector of Christianity and moral order.

Saint Louis also played a major role in defending Eastern Christians and led the Seventh Crusade in 1248 in an effort to support the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. His reign marked a prosperous and influential period for France, both politically and spiritually.

Under his rule, the principal structure of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was completed in 1245. Saint Louis is also closely associated with some of Christianity’s most sacred relics. In 1239, he brought to Paris the Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross, and a Holy Nail believed to be from the Crucifixion.

On August 19, 1239, these relics entered Paris in a solemn procession. In a powerful act of humility, the king removed his royal garments, dressed in a simple tunic, and walked barefoot while carrying the Crown of Thorns to Notre-Dame.

Moreover, to house and honor these precious relics, Saint Louis commissioned the construction of the Sainte-Chapelle, one of the most extraordinary Gothic monuments in Paris. Designed as a monumental reliquary, the chapel was built to reflect both royal devotion and divine glory.

Saint Louis also founded the Sorbonne in 1257, reinforcing Paris as a major center of learning and theology. He remains the only King of France to have been canonized, and his legacy continues to shape the religious, cultural, and architectural history of Paris.

King Charles V (1500–1558) and Paris Churches

Charles V (1500–1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556. He also was King of Spain from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy from 1506 to 1555.

Charles revitalized the medieval concept of universal monarchy. With no fixed capital, he made 40 journeys through the different entities he ruled and spent a quarter of his reign travelling within his realms. Although his empire came to him peacefully, he spent most of his life waging war, exhausting his revenues and leaving debts. Indeed, he attempted to defend Catholicism, the integrity of the Holy Roman Empire from the Reformation, the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, and in wars with France.

The Charles V wall, built from 1356 to 1383, is one of the seven large walls that chronologically surrounded Paris. It replaced that of Philippe Auguste on the right bank. Its western part, which had become useless after the construction of the Louis XIII wall. However, it was demolished around 1640. Its eastern part, reinforced by the creation of bastions in the middle of the 16th century. Then, it was destroyed from 1670, making way for the Grands Boulevards. This rampart, has very few remains.

Queens Who Ruled from the Shadows

Catherine de Medici – Power Behind the Throne

Born in 1519, Catherine de Medici wasn’t queen by birthright but ruled through influence.

Art, Politics, and Religious Conflict

A patron of art and architecture, she helped shape Parisian culture but is also tied to the Wars of Religion, including the infamous St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Power, beauty, and blood—her legacy is complicated.

Queen Catherine de’ Medici and the Religious Wars in 16th-Century Paris

Catherine de’ Medici (April 13, 1519 – January 5, 1589) was an Italian noblewoman born into the powerful Medici family of Florence. She became Queen of France through her marriage to King Henry II, reigning from 1547 to 1559. She was also the mother of three French kings — Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. The period of their reigns is often referred to as “the Age of Catherine de’ Medici” because of the significant influence she held over French politics.

The second half of the 16th century was marked by the French Wars of Religion. These wars opposed Catholics and Protestants, who were known in France as Huguenots. The religious reform movement was strongly shaped by the teachings of John Calvin, the French theologian and Protestant reformer. These tensions were not only religious but also political.

The crisis reached a tragic peak with the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, which began in Paris on the night of August 24, 1572. The violence followed years of rivalry between Catholic and Protestant elites. Over several days, thousands of Protestants were killed in Paris, and the violence spread to other parts of France. The exact role of the royal court remains debated by historians. Traditional accounts have often placed responsibility on King Charles IX and his mother, Catherine de’ Medici. In Paris, the signal for the beginning of the violence is said to have come from the bell of the Church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois, located near the Louvre Palace.

Catherine de’ Medici remains a controversial and fascinating figure. A patron of the arts and a skilled political strategist, she tried at times to balance competing religious forces.

The Renaissance Kings of France

François I – Patron of Arts and Ideas

Born in 1494, François I brought the French Renaissance to life.

Renaissance Paris and Royal Favorites

He invited Leonardo da Vinci to France, expanded the Louvre, and made art a political statement. His favorites enjoyed influence, proving court life could be as dramatic as a stage play.

King of France François I (1494-1547) and Saint Eustache Paris Church

Born under the name François d’Angoulême on September 12, 1494 in Cognac and died on March 31, 1547 in Rambouillet, is a king of France who reigned from January 25, 1515, the day of his coronation, to his death in 1547. Son of Charles d’Orléans and Louise de Savoie, he belonged to the Valois-Angoulême branch of the Capetian dynasty.

Indeed, Francis I is the emblematic king of the French Renaissance period. His reign allowed a significant development of arts and letters in France. He has a powerful rival in the person of Emperor Charles V (Was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (1519-1555) under the name of Charles V of Germany, and King of Spain under the name of Charles I of Spain.

Moreover, he was the most powerful monarch in Europe and must count on the diplomatic interests of King Henry VIII of England (married 8 times and father of Elisabeth 1er), always eager to become an ally of one camp or the other. Francis I forbade his imperial enemy from making his dreams come true. The antagonism of the two Catholic sovereigns had serious consequences for the Christian West: it facilitated the spread of the nascent Reformation and above all allowed the Ottoman Empire to settle at the gates of Vienna.

His reign accelerated the Reformation. The constitution became the absolute monarchy under the Bourbons. The war financial needs led to optimize the management of the State and the territory. Francis I introduced a series of reforms and in particular the improvement of tax yield, reforms implemented and continued under the reign of his son and successor, Henry II. He ordered the construction of Saint Eustache church in Paris.

Chambord castle is also one of the most astonishing Renaissance constructions under François I and Leonardo da Vinci.

Kings of France for the People

Henri IV – Unity After Chaos

Born in 1553, Henri IV famously said, “Paris is worth a Mass.”

Paris Worth a Mass

Founder of the Bourbon dynasty, he converted to Catholicism to unify France and rebuilt Paris with bridges like Pont Neuf. He ruled like a pragmatic father figure after years of civil war.

The Edict of Nantes and King of France Henry IV in the 16th Century

One of the most significant events in French religious history was the Edict of Nantes, issued by King Henry IV. Before becoming king, Henry of Navarre was the leading Protestant prince in France. In order to secure the throne and bring stability to the kingdom, he converted to Catholicism.

On July 25, 1593, Henry formally renounced Protestantism at the Basilica of Saint-Denis, near Paris. This historic basilica, long associated with the French monarchy, became both a place of pilgrimage and the burial site of French kings, with most rulers from the 10th to the 18th centuries laid to rest there. After fulfilling this crucial condition, Henry established himself as King Henry IV of France, founding the Bourbon dynasty.

In April 1598, Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes, a landmark decree of religious tolerance. Its purpose was to bring an end to the devastating Wars of Religion, which had torn France apart since 1562 and had culminated in a final conflict beginning in 1585.

The edict granted Protestants (Huguenots) important civil rights and limited freedom of worship while maintaining Catholicism as the official religion of the kingdom. By promoting coexistence between Catholics and Protestants, Henry IV succeeded in ending decades of civil war and restoring relative peace and stability to France.

The Edict of Nantes is the most important achievement of Henry IV’s reign, marking a turning point in French history and laying the foundation for national reconciliation after years of division.

The Sun King and Absolute Power

Louis XIV – The Sun King of France

Born in 1638, Louis XIV reigned for 72 years—a record.

Versailles, Art, and Absolute Monarchy

He centralized power, sponsored art, and built Versailles, turning monarchy into theater. Paris became Europe’s cultural heartbeat under his glow.

The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes under King of France Louis XIV in the 17th Century

Louis XIV (1638–1715), known as Louis the Great or the Sun King, was one of the most powerful monarchs in European history. His reign of 72 years remains the longest in French history. From 1682 onward, he governed France from the magnificent Palace of Versailles, which became the symbol of royal absolutism and centralized power. Have a private guided tour in Paris dedicated to his Majesty.

On October 18, 1685, Louis XIV signed the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the Edict of Nantes established by his grandfather, King Henry IV, in 1598. The earlier edict had granted limited religious freedoms to Protestants (Huguenots) and helped end decades of civil war.

By revoking it, Louis XIV outlawed Protestant worship in France. Churches were destroyed, Protestant schools were closed, and many believers faced pressure to convert to Catholicism. This policy, driven by the king’s desire for religious unity and absolute authority, led to persecution and the mass exile of hundreds of thousands of Protestants.

The departure of these skilled artisans, merchants, and professionals caused serious economic and cultural losses for France and ultimately weakened the kingdom.

Religious symbolism remained central to Louis XIV’s image as a divinely appointed ruler. At Versailles, the Sun king completed the Royal Chapel in 1710 near the end of his reign. Dedicated to Saint Louis, the chapel reflects the tradition of sacred royal architecture and echoes the spiritual legacy of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, built centuries earlier under King Saint Louis.

Kings of France The End

Louis XVI – A King of France and a French Revolution

Born in 1754, Louis XVI inherited a financial mess and a restless nation.

Marie-Antoinette – Queen, Fashion Icon, Tragedy

Born in 1755, Marie-Antoinette symbolized royal excess. Together, they faced the French Revolution, ending with the guillotine—and monarchy’s collapse.

Emperor Replaces Kings of France

Napoleon Bonaparte – From General to Emperor

Born in 1769, Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French.

Rebuilding France and Europe

He reformed laws (Napoleonic Code), expanded territories, and reshaped Europe. Paris gained monuments like the Arc de Triomphe—power carved in stone.

The Last Emperor of France

Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III)

Born in 1808, he ruled as emperor from 1852 to 1870.

Modern Paris and Urban Transformation

Under him, Baron Haussmann redesigned Paris—wide boulevards, parks, and modern infrastructure. The Paris you know today? That’s his legacy.

Lesser-Known but Crucial Kings of France

King of France Louis VIII – The Short Reign with Impact

Born in 1187, his brief reign strengthened royal authority and expanded territories.

King of France Charles X – The Last Bourbon King

Born in 1757, his conservative rule sparked the July Revolution of 1830, ending Bourbon power for good.

Kings of France Legacy

Landmarks, Arts, Religion, and Territories

From Notre-Dame to Versailles, from Gothic faith to Enlightenment thought, French kings turned power into permanence.

What Kings of France Left for Modern France

Borders, laws, culture, and identity—France today is a mosaic of royal ambitions and failures.

The kings and queens of France were more than rulers—they were storytellers writing history in stone, blood, paint, and law. Their legacies still shape Paris streets, French values, and global culture. Love them or loathe them, you can’t ignore them.

The Kings of France Private Tours

Suggested Royal Paris Walking Tour of Paris with a licensed tour guide

Notre-Dame Cathedral linked to Kings of France

This is where France begins. Clovis I, Saint Louis, French monarchy & Church

• Clovis’s conversion made Christianity central to royal power

• Kings worshipped here for centuries

• Napoleon crowned himself Emperor here in 1804

French monarchy was born from religion and Notre-Dame is its beating heart.

Sainte-Chapelle Linked to King of France Saint Louis (Louis IX)

• Built by Saint Louis to house holy relics

• Symbol of the king as God’s chosen ruler

Conciergerie Linked to: Louis XVI & Marie-Antoinette

From palace to prison.

• Marie-Antoinette spent her final days here

• A chilling reminder of how monarchy fell

You’re standing where royal power ended and revolution began.

Pont Neuf Linked to King of France Henri IV

Paris’s oldest bridge and one of its most political.

• Built by Henri IV to unite Paris

Louvre Courtyard Linked to Kings of France

This isn’t just the Louvre museum—it was a royal fortress and palace.

• Philippe Auguste built the medieval Louvre

• François I turned it into a Renaissance palace

• Louis XIV ruled from here before moving to Versailles

Stand in the courtyard and imagine kings riding in on horseback.

Palais-Royal Linked to kings of France Louis XIII, Louis XIV

Power behind the throne and Cardinal Richelieu

• Political intrigues

• Royal advisors pulling strings

• Birthplace of revolutionary ideas

Place de la Concorde Linked to King of France

• Site of the guillotine during the French Revolution

• Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette executed here

Arc de Triomphe Linked to Napoleon Bonaparte

• Celebrates Napoleon’s armies

• Names of victories carved into stone

Optional Extension Kings of France Tour

Tuileries Garden and Kings of France

Linked to: Catherine de Medici, Louis XVI

A peaceful end where royal palaces once stood.

Les Invalides and Kings of France

Les Invalides is one of the most important historic and architectural landmarks in Paris, closely linked to the French monarchy and the nation’s military history. King Louis XIV created the Invalides in 1670 as a royal institution dedicated to caring for wounded and retired soldiers who had served France.

At the time, this was a groundbreaking project. The Sun King wanted to honor his veterans while also reinforcing the image of a strong and compassionate monarchy. The complex included living quarters, a hospital, and a chapel, forming a true community for former soldiers. Its grand classical architecture reflects the power and prestige of Louis XIV’s reign.

At the heart of Les Invalides stands the magnificent Dôme des Invalides, a royal chapel crowned with a golden dome that dominates the Paris skyline. Originally intended as a private chapel for the king, it later became one of France’s most symbolic monuments.

Napoleon’s Tomb

Les Invalides is now world-famous as the burial site of Napoleon Bonaparte. After his death in exile on Saint Helena in 1821, his remains were returned to France in 1840 during the reign of King Louis-Philippe. He was laid to rest beneath the dome in a monumental red quartzite sarcophagus placed above a circular crypt.

Over time, Les Invalides evolved from a royal veterans’ residence into a major national memorial. It now houses military museums and the tombs of several other prominent French military leaders. Blending royal heritage, military honor, and imperial legacy, Les Invalides remains a powerful symbol of France’s past.

Visit his tomb if you want closure on the imperial chapter.

Kings of France FAQs

1. Who is the first King of France?

Clovis I is the first true King of France.

2. Which king of France built Versailles?

Louis XIV transformed Versailles into a symbol of absolute monarchy.

3. Which queen of France was most influential ?

Catherine de Medici wielded immense political power through her sons.

4. Who modernized Paris the most?

Napoleon III reshaped Paris with wide boulevards and modern planning.

5. Why did the French monarchy end?

Economic crisis, inequality, and revolutionary ideas led to its downfall.

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