List of heirs to the French throne
Introduction Coat of arms of the Dauphin of France, a title used by the heir-apparent to the French throne from 1350 to 1791, and from 1824 to 1830.Heraldic crown of the Dauphin of France.The following is a '''list of the heirs to the throne''' of the Kingdom of France, that is, those who were legally next in line to assume the throne upon the death of the King.From 987 to 1792, all heirs to the French throne were male-line descendants of Hugh Capet.
Capetian associate kings The crown of France under the earliest Capetian monarchs was elective, not hereditary. There was no mechanism for automatic succession unless an heir was crowned as associate king, ready to step up as primary king when the previous king died. This procedure was very similar to the method by which the Germans elected a King of the Romans during the lifetime of the German monarch. The early Capetians generally made sure their sons were crowned as associate kings with them, with such success that the inheritance of the eldest son and heir to the kingship came to be accepted as a matter of right. Louis VI of France was the first king to take the throne without having been crowned in his father's time; however, his right to take the throne was initially contested.Co-king  Relationshipto Monarch  Crowned  Co-kingship ceased  Reason  Monarch Robert (II)  son  30 December 987  24 October 996  became sole king  Hugh Capet Hugh Magnus  son  19 June 1017   17 September 1025  died  Robert II of France Henry (I)  son  14 May 1027  20 July 1031  became sole king Philip (I)  son  23 May 1059  4 August 1060  became sole king  Henry I of France Philip  son  14 April 1129  13 October 1131  died  Louis VI of France Louis (VII)  son  25 October 1131  1 August 1137  became sole king Philip (II)  son  1 November 1179  18 September 1180  became sole king  Louis VII of France
Capetian heirs by Salic succession I After the accession of Philip II of France, the throne became ''de jure'' as well as ''de facto'' hereditary, so that on the death of the king, the legal heir became king immediately, and could exercise authority without coronation. The throne passed to the closest male heir.Heirs who actually succeeded are shown in bold type. From 1350 on, the heir apparent to the French throne was styled Dauphin. Heirs so styled are accompanied on the table below by an image of the Dauphin's coat of arms. The title was abandoned in 1791 in favor of the style ''Prince Royal'', less than a year before the abolition of the monarchy.Heir  Status  Relationshipto Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionRelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  Reason '''Louis'''  heir apparent son  5 September 1187  born  14 July 1223  became king  ''succession uncertain'' (1187–1209)  Philip II of FrancePhilipson (1209–1218)'''Louis'''son (1218–1223)'''Louis'''  heir apparent  son  14 July 1223  father became king  8 November 1226  became king  Robertbrother  Louis VIII of France Robert I of Artois  heir presumptive  brother  8 November 1226  brother became king  25 February 1244  son born to king  Jean Tristan, Count of Anjoubrother (1226–1232)  Louis IX of FranceAlfonso, Count of Poitoubrother (1232–1244)Louis  heir apparent  son  25 February 1244  born  11 January 1260  died  Robert I of Artoisuncle (1244–1245)'''Philip'''brother (1245–1260)'''Philip'''  heir apparent  son  11 January 1260  brother died  25 August 1270  became king  Jean Tristanbrother (1260–1264)Louisson (1264–1270)Louis  heir apparent  son  25 August 1270  father became king  May 1276  died  '''Philip'''brother  Philip III of France'''Philip'''  heir apparent  son  May 1276  brother died  5 October 1285  became king  Charles, Count of ValoisbrotherCharles, Count of Valois  heir presumptive  brother  5 October 1285  brother became king  4 October 1289  son born to king  Louisbrother  Philip IV of France'''Louis'''  heir apparent  son  4 October 1289  born  29 November 1314  became king  Charles, Count of Valoisuncle (1289–1293)'''Philip, Count of Poitou'''brother (1293–1314)'''Philip of Poitou'''  heir presumptive  brother/uncle  29 November 1314  brother became king    became king '''Charles, Count of La Marche'''brother (1314–1316)  Louis X of FrancePhilipson (Nov 15-20, 1316) John I of FrancePhilip  heir apparent  son    father became king  24 February 1317 died  '''Charles, Count of La Marche'''uncle  Philip V of France'''Charles of La Marche'''  heir presumptive  brother  24 February 1317 king's son died  3 January 1322  became king  PhilipsonPhilip  heir apparent  son  3 January 1322  father became king  24 March 1322  died  Charles, Count of Valoisgreat-uncle  Charles IV of FranceCharles of Valois  heir presumptive  uncle  24 March 1322  king's son died  20 March 1324  son born to king  '''Philip'''sonLouis  heir apparent  son  20 March 1324  born  21 March 1324  died  Charles, Count of Valoisgreat-uncleCharles of Valois  heir presumptive  uncle  21 March 1324  king's son died  16 December 1325  died  '''Philip'''son'''Philip of Valois'''  heir presumptive  1st cousin  16 December 1325  father died  1 February 1328  became king  '''John'''son'''John'''  heir apparent  son  1 February 1328  father became king  22 August 1350  became king  Charles II, Count of Alençonuncle (1328–1330)  Philip VI of FranceLouisbrother (17 Jan, 1330)Charles II of Alençonuncle (1330–1333)Johnbrother (2 Oct, 1333)Charles II of Alençonuncle (1333–1336)Philip, Duke of Orléansbrother (1336–1338)'''Charles'''son (1338–1350)25px '''Charles'''  heir apparent  son  22 August 1350  father became king  8 April 1364  became king  Louis, Duke of Anjoubrother  John II of FranceLouis, Duke of Anjou  heir presumptive  brother  8 April 1364  brother became king  7 June 1366  son born to king  John, Duke of Berrybrother  Charles V of France25px John  heir apparent  son  7 June 1366  born  21 December 1366  died  Louis, Duke of AnjouuncleLouis, Duke of Anjou  heir presumptive  brother  21 December 1366  king's son died 3 December 1368  son born to king  John, Duke of Berrybrother25px '''Charles'''  heir apparent  son  3 December 1368  born  16 September 1380  became king  Louis, Duke of Anjouuncle (1368–1372)Louisbrother (1372–1380)Louis I, Duke of Orléans  heir presumptive  brother  16 September 1380  brother became king    son born to king  Louis, Duke of Anjouuncle (1380–1384) Charles VI of FranceLouis II, Duke of Anjou1st cousin (1384–1386)25px Charles  heir apparent  son  25 September 1386  born    died  Louis I, Duke of OrléansuncleLouis I, Duke of Orléans  heir presumptive  brother  28 December 1386  king's son died  6 February 1392  son born to king  Louis II, Duke of Anjou1st cousin25px Charles  heir apparent  son  6 February 1392  born  13 January 1401  died Louis I, Duke of Orléansuncle (1392–1397)Louisbrother (1397–1401)25px Louis  heir apparent  son  13 January 1401  brother died  18 December 1415  died  Johnbrother25px John  heir apparent  son  18 December 1415  brother died  5 April 1417  died  '''Charles'''brother25px '''Charles'''  heir apparent son 5 April 1417 brother died  21 October 1422  became king  Charles, Duke of Orléans1st cousin
Lancastrian succession On May 21, 1420, the government of Charles VI was obliged to sign the Treaty of Troyes, which provided a legal framework for the transfer of power to Henry V, King of England, who had invaded and occupied northern France, including Paris. Under the treaty, Henry, who was to marry Charles' daughter Catherine, was named as "Heir of France" and the Dauphin Charles was disinherited. The treaty was not recognized by those factions which were still at war with England, and only had legal force in English-occupied territory and, more briefly, in the Burgundian lands (1420–1435) and in Brittany.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  ReasonHenry V, King of England  heir apparent  son-in-law  21 May 1420  treaty  31 August 1422  died  ''succession uncertain'', (1420–1421) Charles VIHenry, Duke of Cornwallson, (1421–1422)Henry VI, King of England  heir apparent  grandson  31 August 1422  father died  21 October 1422  became king  ''succession uncertain'' (Aug.-Oct. 1422)succession uncertain 1422–1453“Henry II”Edward of Westminster  heir apparent  son   13 October 1453  born  19 October 1453  father deposed  ''succession uncertain''
Capetian heirs by Salic succession II In southern France, the treaty of Troyes was never regarded as valid, and Charles VII was considered to have become king upon his father's death. Given his repudiation by his father, however, his status remained uncertain until his coronation at Reims on 17 July 1429.In the following two decades Charles VII regained control of most of France; the English were finally expelled from Guienne on 19 October 1453, retaining only the port of Calais.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  ReasonCharles, Duke of Orléans  heir presumptive  1st cousin  21 October 1422  cousin became king  3 July 1423  son born to king  John, Count of Angoulêmebrother  Charles VII of France25px '''Louis'''  heir apparent  son  3 July 1423  born  22 July 1461  became king Charles, Duke of Orléans1st cousin -1 (1423–1426) John of Francebrother (Sept 19, 1426) Charles, Duke of Orléans1st cousin -1 (1426–1432) James of France brother (1432–1437) Charles, Duke of Orléans1st cousin -1 (1437–1446) Charles of Francebrother (1446–1458) Louis of Franceson (1458–1460) Charles of Francebrother (1460–1461)Charles, Duke of Berry  heir presumptive  brother  22 July 1461  brother became king  4 December 1466  son born to king  Charles, Duke of Orléans1st cousin -1 (1461–1465)  Louis XI of France'''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''2nd cousin (1465–1466) 25px Francis  heir apparent  son  4 December 1466  born  4 December 1466  died  Charles, Duke of BerryCharles, Duke of Berry  heir presumptive  brother  4 December 1466  king's son died  30 June 1470  son born to king  '''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''2nd cousin25px '''Charles'''  heir apparent  son  30 June 1470  born  30 August 1483  became king  Charles, Duke of Berryuncle (1470–1472)'''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''2nd cousin -1 (May–Sept 1472)Francis, Duke of Berrybrother (1472–1473)'''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''2nd cousin -1 (1473–1483)'''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''  heir presumptive  2nd cousin -1  30 August 1483  cousin became king  11 October 1492  son born to king  Charles, Count of Angoulême1st cousin  Charles VIII of France25px Charles–Orland  heir apparent  son  11 October 1492  born  6 December 1495  died  '''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''2nd cousin -2'''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''  heir presumptive  2nd cousin -1  6 December 1495  king's son died  8 September 1496  son born to king  Charles, Count of Angoulême1st cousin (1495–1496)'''Francis, Count of Angoulême'''1st cousin +1 (Jan–Sep 1496)25px Charles  heir apparent  son  8 September 1496  born  2 October 1496  died  '''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''2nd cousin -2'''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''  heir presumptive  2nd cousin -1  2 October 1496  king's son died  July 1497  son born to king  '''Francis, Count of Angoulême'''1st cousin +125px Francis  heir apparent  son  July 1497  born  July 1497  died  '''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''2nd cousin -2 '''Louis, Duke of Orléans'''  heir presumptive  2nd cousin -1  July 1497  king's son died  7 April 1498  became king  '''Francis, Count of Angoulême'''1st cousin +1'''Francis, Count of Angoulême'''  heir presumptive  1st cousin +1  7 April 1498  cousin became king  1 January 1515  became king  Charles IV, Duke of Alençon5th cousin -1  Louis XII of FranceCharles IV, Duke of Alençon  heir presumptive  5th cousin –1  1 January 1515  cousin became king  28 February 1518  son born to king  Charles III, Duke of Bourbon7th cousin  Francis I of France25px Francis  heir apparent  son  28 February 1518  born  10 August 1536  died Charles IV, Duke of Alençon5th cousin -2 (1518–1519)'''Henry, Duke of Orléans'''brother (1519–1536)25px '''Henry'''  heir apparent  son  10 August 1536  brother died  31 March 1547  became king  Charles, Duke of Orléansbrother (1536–1544)'''Francis of France'''son (1544–1547)25px '''Francis''' heir apparent  son  31 March 1547  father became king  10 July 1559  became king  Antoine, Duke of Vendôme8th cousin –2 (1547–1549)  Henry II of FranceLouis, Duke of Orléansbrother (1549–1550)'''Charles, Duke of Orléans'''brother (1550–1559)'''Charles, Duke of Orléans'''  heir presumptive  brother  10 July 1559  brother became king  5 December 1560  became king  '''Henry of France'''brother  Francis II of France'''Henry of Poland'''  heir presumptive  brother  5 December 1560  brother became king  30 May 1574  became king  Francis, Duke of Alençonbrother  Charles IX of FranceFrançois, Duke of Anjou  heir presumptive  brother  30 May 1574  brother became king  10 June 1584  died  '''Henry III of Navarre'''9th cousin -1  Henry III of France'''Henry III of Navarre'''  heir presumptive  9th cousin -1  10 June 1584  king's brother died  2 August 1589  became king  Charles of BourbonuncleCharles of Bourbon  heir presumptive  uncle  2 August 1589  nephew became king  9 May 1590  died  Henry, Prince of Condégreat-nephew  Henry IV of FranceHenry, Prince of Condé  heir presumptive  1st cousin +1  9 May 1590  great-uncle died  27 September 1601  son born to king  Francis, Prince of Contiuncle25px '''Louis'''  heir apparent  son    born  14 May 1610  became king  Henry, Prince of Condé2nd cousin (1601–1607)Nicolas Henry, Duke of Orléansbrother (1607–1610)Nicolas Henry, Duke of Orléans  heir presumptive  brother  14 May 1610  brother became king  17 November 1611  died  Gaston, Duke of Anjoubrother Louis XIII of FranceGaston, Duke of Orléans  heir presumptive  brother  17 November 1611  brother died  5 September 1638  son born to king  Henry, Prince of Condé2nd cousin25px '''Louis'''  heir apparent  son  5 September 1638  born  14 May 1643  became king Gaston, Duke of Orléansuncle (1638–1640)Philip, Duke of Anjoubrother (1640–1643)Philip I, Duke of Orléans  heir presumptive  brother  14 May 1643  brother became king  1 November 1661  son born to king  Gaston, Duke of Orléansuncle (1643–1660)  Louis XIV of FranceLouis II, Prince of Condé3rd cousin (1660–1661)25px Louis''Le Grand Dauphin''  heir apparent  son  1 November 1661  born  14 April 1711  died  Philip I, Duke of Orléansuncle (1661–1668)Philip Charles, Duke of Anjoubrother (1668–1671)Philip I, Duke of Orléansuncle (1671–1672)Louis Francis, Duke of Anjoubrother (Jun–Nov 1672)Philip I, Duke of Orléansuncle (1672–1682)Louis, Duke of Burgundyson (1682–1711)25px Louis''Le Petit Dauphin''  heir apparent  grandson  14 April 1711  father died  18 February 1712  died  Louis, Duke of Brittanyson25px Louis  heir apparent  great–grandson  18 February 1712  father died  8 March 1712  died  '''Louis, Duke of Anjou'''brother25px '''Louis'''  heir apparent  great–grandson  8 March 1712  brother died  1 September 1715  became king  Philip V of Spainuncle (1712-1713)Charles, Duke of Berryuncle (1713–1714)Philip II, Duke of Orléans1st cousin –2 (1714–1715)Philip II, Duke of Orléans''Regent of France''  heir presumptive  1st cousin –2  1 September 1715  cousin became king  2 December 1723  died  Louis, Duke of Chartresson  Louis XV of FranceLouis, Duke of Orléans  heir presumptive  2nd cousin –1  2 December 1723  father died  4 September 1729  son born to king  Louis Henry, Prince of Condé5th cousin +1 (1723–1725)Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartresson (1725–1729)25px Louis  heir apparent  son  4 September 1729  born  20 December 1765  died Louis, Duke of Orléans2nd cousin –2 (1729–1730)Philip, Duke of Anjoubrother (1730–1733)Louis, Duke of Orléans2nd cousin –2 (1733–1751)Louis, Duke of Burgundyson (1751–1761)'''Louis–Auguste, Duke of Berry'''son (1761–1765)25px '''Louis–Auguste'''  heir apparent  grandson  20 December 1765  father died  10 May 1774  became king  '''Louis, Count of Provence'''brother'''Louis, Count of Provence'''  heir presumptive  brother  10 May 1774  brother became king  22 October 1781  son born to king  '''Charles, Count of Artois'''brother  Louis XVI of France25px Louis Joseph  heir apparent  son  22 October 1781  born  4 June 1789  died  '''Louis, Count of Provence'''uncle (1781–1785)Louis–Charles, Duke of Normandybrother (1785–1789)25px Louis Charles  heir apparent  son  4 June 1789  brother died  21 September 1792  monarchy abolished  '''Louis, Count of Provence'''uncleFollowing the abolition of the monarchy of France by the French National Convention, Louis XVI and his family were held in confinement. Louis XVI was found guilty by the Convention of treason against the state, and was executed on 21 January 1793.The Dauphin Louis–Charles was thereafter proclaimed "Louis XVII of France" by French royalists, but was kept confined and never reigned. He died of illness on 8 June 1795.Louis–Stanislas–Xavier, Count of Provence, was subsequently proclaimed "Louis XVIII", but was in exile from France and powerless.
Bonaparte succession: First Empire France passed through a series of republican regimes until a hereditary monarchy was restored in the person of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was proclaimed hereditary Emperor of the French on 18 May 1804.The succession law promulgated at the same time also demanded a Salic succession, in which Napoleon was to be succeeded by, first, his own legitimate offspring, then his elder brother Joseph Bonaparte and his descendants, and finally his younger brother Louis Bonaparte and his descendants. (Napoleon's other brothers were omitted for various reasons.) The title of the heir apparent of the First Empire was ''King of Rome''.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  ReasonJoseph Bonaparte  heir presumptive  elder brother  18 May 1804  Empire proclaimed  20 March 1811  son born to Emperor  Louis Bonapartebrother  Napoleon INapoleon Francis''King of Rome''  heir apparent  son  20 March 1811  born  6 April 1814  abdication of Napoleon Iend of the Empire  Joseph BonaparteuncleNapoleon I was defeated by an alliance of most of the other European powers, and abdicated unconditionally, for himself and his son, on 6 April 1814 (an abdication given legal force by a treaty with the Allies dated 11 April 1814) and went into exile.
Restored Bourbon succession I On 6 April 1814, the Senate of the French Empire summoned Louis Stanislas Xavier, Count of Provence—already styling himself "Louis XVIII"—to become head of a restored, but constitutional, French monarchy. Louis' younger brother, Charles, Count of Artois, came to Paris on 12 April and was appointed Lieutenant-General of the realm; Louis himself returned on 3 May, and on 4 June he authorized the publication of a constitution for France (the Charter of 1814) by which he became a constitutional monarch. With the acceptance of this constitution we can say that the monarchy was resumed, although by royalist principles the Republican and Imperial governments of 1792–1814 had all been illegitimate, and the monarchy itself had never ceased.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  Reason'''Charles, Count of Artois'''  heir presumptive  brother  6 April 1814  brother became king  19 March 1815  fall of royal government  Louis-Antoine, Duke of Angoulêmeson  Louis XVIII of FranceOn 1 March 1815, however, Napoleon returned to France. With Napoleon I within miles of the capital, Louis XVIII and all his family fled Paris on 19 March, and for the next several months they remained in exile, until the victory of Waterloo allowed them to return.
Restored Bonaparte succession On 20 March Napoleon entered Paris and once again proclaimed the Empire. Although the Imperial Constitution was amended in a more democratic direction, the hereditary office of Emperor and the succession laws remained unchanged.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  ReasonNapoleon Francis''King of Rome''  heir apparent  son  20 March 1815  Empire re-proclaimed  22 June 1815  nominally became Emperor  Joseph Bonaparteuncle  Napoleon I of FranceJoseph Bonaparte  heir presumptive  uncle  22 June 1815  nephew became Emperor  7 July 1815  end of Empire  Louis Bonapartebrother  Napoleon II of FranceThis restored First Empire lasted until 22 June 1815, when Napoleon abdicated again, this time in favor of a regency on behalf of his son (who had been separated from his father in 1814 and was living in Vienna, Austria). The nominal reign of Napoleon II lasted no longer than until 7 July 1815, when an Allied army occupied Paris. Napoleon I was now exiled to the Atlantic island of St. Helena, where he died a prisoner 5 May 1821.Napoleon II continued to live under close observation in Vienna until he died of tuberculosis 22 July 1832.Neither Joseph nor Louis Bonaparte ever made any effort on behalf of the imperial claims that had descended to them.
Restored Bourbon succession II On July 8 Louis XVIII returned to Paris. Government was resumed under the 1814 Constitution as before.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  Reason'''Charles, Count of Artois'''  heir presumptive  brother  8 July 1815  resumption of royal government  16 September 1824  became king  Louis-Antoine, Duke of Angoulêmeson  Louis XVIII of France25px '''''Louis-Antoine'''''  heir apparent  son  16 September 1824  father became king  2 August 1830  father abdicated/''technically became king''  Henry, Duke of Bordeauxnephew  Charles X of FranceCharles X's attempt in July 1830 to suspend the Charter of 1814 prompted a revolution. After several days of violence at the end of July and the beginning of August, Charles and his son fled Paris and signed an instrument of abdication. The intended beneficiary of the abdication was Charles' grandson (the Dauphin's nephew) Henry, Duke of Bordeaux, a child of 9.
Orléans succession After several days of discussion, the French Chamber of Deputies chose to ignore the instrument and instead proclaimed Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, as King on 9 August 1830.Under the Orléans régime, the style ''Dauphin'' was not used for the heir apparent to the French throne; he was called instead ''Prince Royal'', in accordance with the 1791–1792 usage.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  ReasonFerdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans  heir apparent  son  9 August 1830  father elected king  13 July 1842  died  Louis, Duke of Nemoursbrother (1830–1838) Louis-Philippe of FrancePhilippe, Count of Parisson (1838–1842)Philippe, Count of Paris  heir apparent  grandson  13 July 1842  father died  24 February 1848  abdication of Louis-Philippe  Robert, Duke of ChartresbrotherAfter a further revolutionary upheaval in 1848, Louis-Philippe abdicated on 24 February in favor of his grandson Philippe. The choice of Philippe was not accepted by the Chamber of Deputies, and instead the monarchy was abolished and a new Republic declared.
Bonaparte succession: Second Empire The Second Republic elected as its president Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, son of Napoleon I's brother Louis Bonaparte. President Bonaparte overthrew the Republic by self coup on 2 December 1851; exactly one year later, following a plebiscite, he converted himself into an Emperor, Napoleon III—considering the brief reign of "Napoleon II" in 1815 as valid.The succession laws were similar to those of the First Empire, except that Jérôme Bonaparte and his male-line male descendants were, by special decree, eligible for the succession, following the descendants of Napoleon III himself (Joseph Bonaparte had died leaving no male children; other than Napoleon III, no other descendants of Louis Bonaparte survived by 1852).The heir apparent of the Emperor was titled ''Prince Imperial'', parallel to the Orléans title of ''Prince Royal''.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  ReasonJérôme Bonaparte  heir presumptive  uncle  18 December 1852  Imperial decree  16 March 1856  son born to Emperor  Napoléon Joseph Charles Paul Bonaparteson  Napoleon IIILouis Napoléon, Prince Imperial  heir apparent  son  16 March 1856  born  4 September 1870  Third Republic declared Jérôme Bonapartegreat-uncle (1856–1860)Napoléon Joseph Charles Paul Bonaparte1st cousin -1 (1860–1870)With the failure of the Imperial army at the Battle of Sedan in the Franco-Prussian War, Napoleon III was captured and his government collapsed. Two days after the battle a Third Republic was declared which would last for seventy years. The Imperial family went into exile. France has not been ruled by a monarchy from this point.
See also * List of French monarchs* Fundamental laws of the Kingdom of France
Notes