Definition of Capetian Dynasty

After the disappearance of the Carolingian dynasty, a series of kings of the same family saga, the Capetians, succeeded one another on the throne of France. Between 987 and 1328 this new dynasty remained in power.

Specifically, there were 14 kings who were succeeding each other in a direct line.

His main achievement was to maintain the territorial unity of France

In the Middle Ages In Europe the current nations did not exist, since there was a great fragmentation of the continent European. In France the feudal lords and nobles had control over the different territories of the nation.

Despite this, the Capetians managed to maintain control over the nobility and somehow became the symbol of the Unit from France.

The most prominent monarchs were four: Hugo Capet (founder of the dynasty), Felipe IV (known as Felipe el Hermoso), Felipe II and Luis IX, better known as San Luis.

They ended the power of the Templars but a curse fell on them

The knights of the Order of the Temple, popularly known as the Templars, had immense power in France. On the one hand, they had the protection of the Pope of Rome and, on the other, they had become a shadow power due to their economic strength. Felipe el Hermoso launched a cunning smear campaign against the Templars and managed to imprison his top leaders and finally put an end to the Order.

The last Grand Master of the Temple, Jacques de Molay, was executed at the stake and while he was being burned by the flames he cursed Philip the Fair and all his descendants.

In some way, the Templars were avenged, since after their extermination France went through a period of misfortunes: Philip the Fair died the same year that Jacques de Molay, the Black Death in the fourteenth century devastated the country and the line of succession of the kings did not have male descendants and Charles IV was the last of the Capetians.

It has been said of them that they were cursed kings.

Some present-day monarchs of Europe are descendants of the Capetian lineage

The current king of Spain, Felipe Vl, belongs to the Bourbon dynasty. The Bourbon surname comes from a French town, Bourbon l´ Archambault. Originally the family Bourbon was recognized by the Capetians and made them direct vassals.

When the Capetians became extinct, a new dynasty arose in France, the Bourbons. Although in France the monarchy disappeared after the French Revolution, the tradition Spanish monarchy has been predominantly Bourbon and, consequently, heir to the Capetians.

Other European monarchs also have a shared lineage with this dynasty of origin. medieval.

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