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House of Capet

(Redirected from Capet)
House of Capet
Cadets
Senior House
Valois
Bourbon
Burgundy
Portugal
Aviz
Braganza

The House of Capet includes any of the direct descendents of Robert the Strong. The current king of Spain and the grand duke of Luxembourg are members of this family.

Table of contents

The early dynasty

The distant origins of this family are speculative yet seem to originate in the Rhine Valley, east of modern-day France. Cheribert, a nobleman in Neustria is the earliest recorded ancestor of the family, dating before 636. Five generations pass between Cheribert and the next descendent of note, Rutpert I, who became a count in the Upper Rhine Valley and in Wormgau. Four more generations pass until Robert the Strong appears as a count in Paris, Anjou, Blois, Tours, Auxerre, and Nevers. From this point onward, a certain peerage can be established.

The Capet dynasty unoffically begins with King Eudes and King Robert I of France, both sons of Robert the Strong, who ruled during the Carolingian era. The family became Counts of Paris under Eudes and Dukes of the Franks under Robert, possessing most of the ancient province of Neustria. Although quarrels continued between Robert's son Hugh the Great and Louis IV, they were mended upon the ascension of Lothair. Lothair granted Hugh the Duchy of Burgundy and Aquitaine, expanding the Capetian dominions.

Ultimately, Carolingian France fell following the death of Louis V. After the death of Louis, the son of Hugh the Great, Hugh Capet, requested the crown of France from the archbishop of Reims and the upper nobility. Since his family had worked so hard for the Carolingian cause and remained loyal, Hugh was crowned King of France at Noyon, Picardie on July 3, 987 with the full support from Holy Roman Emperor Otto III.

Origin of the name

The name Capet derives from French, meaning 'wearing a cape,' because of Hugh Capet's habit of cape-wearing.

Capets through history

Over the course of the preceding centuries, Capetians would spread throughout Europe, ruling every form of provincial unit from Kingdoms to Manors. Besides being the most numerous royal family in Europe, it also is one of the most incestual, especially in the Spanish Monarchy. Salic Law, reestablished during the Hundred Years' War from an ancient French tradition, caused the French monarchy to permit only direct male descendents of Hugh to succeed to the throne of France. This did not effect monarchies not under that law such as Portugal, Spain, Navarre, and various smaller duchies and counties. Therefore, many royal families appear and disappear in the French succession or become cadet branches upon marriage. A complete list of the senior-most line of Capetians is available here.

Capetians and their domains

The Capet dynasty today

Many years have passed since the Capetian monarchs ruled all of Europe, however they still remain as kings, as well as other titles. Currently two Capetian monarchs still rule in Spain and Luxembourg. In addition, five pretenders represent exiled dynastic monarchies in Brazil, France, Portugal, and Spain. The current legitimate senior family member is Louis Alfonso, the Duke of Anjou, who also holds the Legitimist claim to the French throne. Overall, dozens of branches of the Capet family still exist throughout Europe.

Current countries under Capetian leadership:

Current Capetian Pretenders







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