The House of Valois was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, succeeding the House
of Capet as kings of France from 1328 to 1589.
A cadet branch of the family reigned as dukes of Burgundy from 1363 to 1482.
The Valois descended from Charles, Count of Valois, the fourth son of King Philip III
of France.
They based their claim on the Salic law, which excluded females as well as male descendants
through the distaff line, 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 and a daughter.
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:
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.
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.
Edward III of England, son of Isabella of France, daughter and only surviving child
of Philip IV.
Edward claimed to be the heir as the only direct male descendant 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.
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 authorities 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.
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 between England and France.
List of Valois kings of France Valois
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 – 1544–1560
Charles IX – 1560–1574 Henry III – 1574–1589
The application of the Salic Law meant that with the extinction of the Valois line on
the male side, the Bourbon Dynasty followed as descendants of Louis IX.
Valois king of Poland Henry III of France – 1573–1574
Other significant titles held by the House of Valois
Counts and Dukes of Alençon House of Valois-Alençon
Charles II, count, second son of Charles of Valois
Charles III, count Peter II, count
John I, count John I, duke
John II, duke René I, duke
Charles IV, duke Counts and Dukes of Anjou
House of Valois-Anjou Louis I, duke, second son of John II of France
Louis II, son of Louis III, son of
René I, brother of Charles IV,
Dukes of Burgundy House of Valois-Burgundy
Philip II the Bold, fourth son of John II of France
John II the Fearless Philip III the Good
Charles I the Bold Mary I the Rich
Dukes of Brabant House of Valois-Burgundy-Brabant
Anthony I, second son of Philip the Bold of Burgundy
John IV Philip I
Counts of Nevers House of Valois-Burgundy-Nevers
Philip II, third son of Philip the Bold of Burgundy
Charles I John II
Dukes of Orléans House of Valois-Orléans
Louis I, Duke of Orléans, younger son of Charles V of France
Charles, Duke of Orléans Louis II, Duke of Orléans, later also King
of France as Louis XII Counts of Angoulême
House of Valois-Orléans-Angoulême John, Count of Angoulême, a younger son of
Louis I, Duke of Orléans Charles, Count of Angoulême
Francis, Count of Angoulême, later also King of France as Francis I
Illegitimate family branches House of Valois-Dunois, counts of Longueville
House of Valois-Saint-Remy, counts of Saint-Rémy Forms of address
Forms of address for Valois kings included "Most Christian Majesty".
See also Ancien Régime
French monarchs family tree Valois Tapestries
References