WHO WERE THE BOURBONS? - HISTORY - 2024

The Bourbons were a family of the French Royal Household from the current province of Allier, formerly known as Bourbonnais. Since 1700 they have been the ruling house in Spain, with the sole exception of the years that the occupation of Napoleon lasted, the two republics or the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

They have existed as a dynasty since the 10th century, but they only rose to the crown in the 18th century, with their arrival and conquest of Spanish territory. Likewise, her blood is recently present in the reigning house of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, also known only as Luxembourg.

Louis XIV, the third Bourbon king

Origins of the Bourbon family in ancient France

The first known lord of Bourbon or Bourbonnais dates from the year 917 and his name was Adhémar. He acquired the Bourbon-l'Archambault castle as a gift from King Charles III, the fortress that gives the house its name.

Despite this, the denomination "Bourbon" or Bourbon did not begin at that time, as the feudal lords of those lands were known as "d'Archambault".

Seven heirs had the French vassal title d'Archambault, until in 1171 the house was left without male descendants. Then Mathilde Bourbonnais inherited land and became the first Bourbon lady.

They expanded significantly when Guy II de Dampierre, Mathilde's husband, added the territory to the Montluçon region. Thus, the next male in the family became a constable, an authoritarian figure second only to the French crown.

By 1262 he inherited the title Inés de Borbón, Mathilde's great-great-granddaughter. Agnes, or Agnes, married Juan de Borgoña, who became the bearer of both titles, Burgundy and Bourbon. Beatriz, daughter of Inés and Juan, married Roberto de Francia in 1272.

Dukes of Bourbon

The union of Beatriz with Roberto was the beginning of the royal rise of the House of Bourbon, since Roberto was the sixth son of King Louis IX of France. The first son of Roberto and Beatriz was Luis, who would be the first of a line of 8 Dukes of Bourbon.

Among the later descendants, Luis II de Borbón stands out, who would be the third heir. It was around 10 years captive by the English, time in which their lands would return to the crown. In 1374 he returned and his title was returned to him, which succeeded his son when he died in 1410.

In 1525 the French crown would absorb it again and give the title to Carlos de Vendôme, the new Bourbon duke.

Bourbons reign in France thanks to Navarre

By 1555, the dukes became part of the Navarre dynasty, when Antonio, the Duke of Vendôme and only son of Carlos, married Juana de Albret.

Henry III of Navarre, Antonio's son, became King of France after the War of the Three Henry's in 1559. Thus the Bourbons came to the throne of France, through the Navarre dynasty.

From that day until 1848, a total of 8 Bourbon kings would reign successively in France. Her reign was interrupted only with the arrival of the French Revolution and the establishment of the Second French Republic.

The Bourbons in Spain

Felipe de Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV and third French Bourbon king, would come to the Spanish throne after his appointment in 1700, and was renamed Felipe V. This happened because Felipe was the great-nephew of Carlos II and direct successor of the House of Austria.

For 184 years, the House of Bourbon reigned in France and Spain simultaneously. Today his legacy lives on in Spain, with Felipe VI wearing the Spanish crown.

References

1. A.-J.-C., S.-P. (1840). History of France, from the most remote times to 1839. Barcelona: Brusi Printing House.
2. de Chateaubriand, F. (1814). Of Buonaparte and the Bourbons. Perpiñan: Irenta deJ. Alzine.
3. Fernández Albaladejo, P. (2002). The Bourbons Dynasty and Memory of the Nation in 18th century Spain. Madrid: Marcial Pons, editions of history SA
4. Javaloys, J. (2001). The Secret Grail of the Cathars. Madrid: Editorial EDAF.
5. Le Bas, P. (1841). History of France. Barcelona: National Printing Office.