House of Valois

The House of Valois was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty. They succeeded the House of Capet (or "Direct Capetians") to the French throne, and was the royal house of France from 1328 to 1589. Junior members of the family founded cadet branches in Alençon, Anjou, Burgundy and Orléans.

The Valois descended from Charles, Count of Valois (1270–1325), the fourth son of King Philip III of France (reigned 1270–1285). Their title to the throne was based on a precedent in 1316 (popularly known in the English-speaking world as the Salic law), which excluded females (Joan II of Navarre) as well as male descendants through the distaff line (Edward III of England), from the succession to the French throne.

Unexpected inheritance
The Capetian dynasty seemed secure both during and after the reign of Philip IV from 1285 to 1313. Philip had left three surviving sons (Louis, Philip and Charles) and a daughter (Isabella). Each son became king in turn but died young without male heirs, leaving only daughters who could not inherit the throne. When Charles IV died in 1328, the French succession became more problematic.

In 1328 three candidates had plausible claims to the throne:


 * 1) Philip, Count of Valois, son of Charles of Valois, who was the closest heir in male line and a grandson of Philip III. Because his father was the brother of the late Philip IV, he was therefore a nephew of Philip IV and the cousin of Louis X, Philip V and Charles IV. Further, Charles IV had chosen him as the regent before his death.
 * 2) Philip, Count of Évreux, another nephew of Philip IV and cousin of the three most recent Capetian kings. He strengthened his position by marrying Joan of France, daughter of Louis X.
 * 3) Edward III of England, son of Isabella of France, daughter and only surviving child of Philip IV. Edward claimed to be the heir as a grandson of Philip IV.

The claimants to the French throne in 1328

In England, Isabella of France claimed the throne on behalf of her son. Similarly to French conventions, the English law of succession did not allow the succession of females, but allowed the succession through the female line (as occurred de facto with Henry II of England). The French rejected Isabella's claims, arguing that since she herself, as a woman, could not succeed, then she could not transmit any such right to her son. Thus the French magnates chose Philip of Valois, who became Philip VI of France. The throne of Navarre went its separate way, to Joan of France, daughter of Louis X, who became Joan II of Navarre.

Because diplomacy and negotiation had failed, Edward III would have to back his claims with force to obtain the French throne. For a few years, England and France maintained an uneasy peace. Eventually, an escalation of conflict between the two kings led to the confiscation of the duchy of Aquitaine (1337). Instead of paying homage to the French king, as his ancestors had done, Edward claimed that he was the rightful King of France. These events helped launch the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) between England and France.

Valois (direct)

 * Philip VI, the Fortunate 1328–1350, son of Charles of Valois
 * John II, the Good 1350–1364
 * Charles V, the Wise 1364–1380
 * Charles VI, the Well-Beloved, later known as the Mad 1380–1422
 * Charles VII, the Victorious or the Well-Served 1422–1461
 * Louis XI, the Universal Spider 1461–1483
 * Charles VIII, the Affable 1483–1498

Valois-Orléans

 * Louis XII, the Father of His People 1498–1515, great-grandson of Charles V of France

Valois-Angoulême

 * Francis I – 1515–1547, great-great-grandson of Charles V of France
 * Henry II – 1547–1559
 * Francis II – 1559–1560
 * Charles IX – 1560–1574
 * Henry III –  1574–1589

The application of the Salic Law meant that with the extinction of the Valois in the male line, the Bourbons succeeded to the throne as descendants of Louis IX.

Valois king of Poland

 * Henry III of France – 1573–1574

Counts and Dukes of Alençon
House of Valois-Alençon
 * Charles II, count (1325–1346), second son of Charles of Valois
 * Charles III, count (1346–1361)
 * Peter II, count (1361–1391)
 * John I, count (1391–1414)
 * John I, duke (1414–1415)
 * John II, duke (1415–1424 and 1449–1474)
 * René I, duke (1478–1492)
 * Charles IV, duke (1492–1525)

Counts and Dukes of Anjou
House of Valois-Anjou
 * Louis I, duke (1360–1383) (also king of Jerusalem and Naples as Louis I), second son of John II of France
 * Louis II (1377–1417), son of (also king of Naples as Louis II)
 * Louis III (1403–1434), son of (also king of Naples as Louis III)
 * René I (1409–1480), brother of (also king of Jerusalem and Naples as René I)
 * Charles IV (1436–1481),

Dukes of Burgundy
House of Valois-Burgundy
 * Philip II the Bold (1363–1404), fourth son of John II of France
 * John II the Fearless (1404–1419)
 * Philip III the Good (1419–1467)
 * Charles I the Bold (1467–1477)
 * Mary I the Rich (1477–1482)

Dukes of Brabant
House of Valois-Burgundy-Brabant
 * Anthony I (1406–1415), second son of Philip the Bold of Burgundy
 * John IV (1415–1427)
 * Philip I (1427–1430)

Counts of Nevers
House of Valois-Burgundy-Nevers
 * Philip II (1404–1415), third son of Philip the Bold of Burgundy
 * Charles I (1415–1464)
 * John II (1464–1491)

Dukes of Orléans
House of Valois-Orléans
 * Louis I, Duke of Orléans (1372–1407), younger son of Charles V of France
 * Charles, Duke of Orléans (1394–1465)
 * Louis II, Duke of Orléans (1462–1515), later also King of France as Louis XII

Counts of Angoulême
House of Valois-Orléans-Angoulême
 * John, Count of Angoulême (1399–1467), a younger son of Louis I, Duke of Orléans
 * Charles, Count of Angoulême (1459–1496)
 * Francis, Count of Angoulême (1494–1547), later also King of France as Francis I

Illegitimate branches

 * House of Valois-Dunois, counts of Longueville (see Jean de Dunois), descended from a son of Louis I, Duke of Orléans
 * House of Valois-Saint-Remy, counts of Saint-Rémy (see Jeanne of Valois-Saint-Rémy), descended from a son of Henry II of France

Forms of address
Forms of address for Valois kings included "Most Christian Majesty".