Like many European countries, France was once ruled by royals. From Louis XVI (husband of Marie Antoinette) to Napoléon Bonaparte, these rulers hold a place in history. But does France still have a King today? Nope. France isn't a monarchy. It's a Republic, so there's no current royal family recognized by the French state. Still, there are thousands of French citizens who have titles, and many who can trace their lineage back to the French Royal Family and nobility. Plus, there are multiple pretenders to a non-existent French throne who call themselves king even though they aren't recognized as such.
The End of France's Monarchy
As it is with many former monarchies, if the status of the French royal families had a Facebook status, it would be, "It's complicated." The French Revolution, which began in 1789, put a temporary end to France's monarchy and the House of Bourbon's rule — which had lasted from 1589 to 1792 — in France. The monarchy ended violently and dramatically with the beheading of King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette. The royal couple's two sons both died before reaching adulthood and their daughter, Marie Thérèse, was sent to Austria. She died childless in 1851.
After the French Revolution ended in 1799, there was an attempt to restore the monarchy under the House of Bourbon after deposing Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte in 1814. Louis XVIII (Louis XVI's brother) ruled until Napoléon returned after 11 months of exile and took over as ruler for 110 days in 1815 before Louis XVIII was again restored to the throne. After Louis XVIII died in 1824, his brother, Charles X stepped in as king. He ruled until 1830, when he abdicated, as did his son.
In 1830, the Duke of Orléans, Louis-Philippe was elected "King of the French." He lasted until 1848 when he abdicated and fled to England, and the French monarchy was finally abolished completely.
Members of the French Royal Family Today
France's three most recent monarchs from the Houses of Bourbon, Bonaparte, and Orléans have some descendants. While Louis XVI and Lous XVIII don't have any direct descendants alive today, Charles X, Louis-Philippe, and Napoléon Bonaparte do. Even so, it's unlikely you'll see a king on the French throne in your lifetime. But there are still pretenders to the throne who claim their bloodlines would make them king, and they have royalists among the French population who would support their re-ascension to the monarchy.
The House of Bourbon
Louis Alphonse de Bourbon, the Duke of Anjou, is a descendant of Charles X. He claims the title of French King Louis XX through Spain's House of the Bourbon.
The House of Orléans
Jean D'Orléans, son of Henri, Count of Paris, is a pretender through The House of Orléans. He is a descendant of the Duke of Orléans. He pretends to the title Henri VII of France.
The House of Bonaparte
Charles Prince Napoléon has a very tenuous claim because he is not a direct descendant of Emperor Napoléon, but is Napoléon's brother's great-great-grandson. His claim is also a problem because his father, Louis, Prince Napoléon, willed that Charles be bypassed as head of the Imperial House of France for his son, Jean-Christophe, Prince Napoléon.
Other French Nobles
Even in the 21st century, an extraordinary number of people still qualify as "French nobility," some related to former royal rulers of France. According to a BBC report, between 50,000 and 100,000 people claim to be "aristocrats."
Some French royals and nobles have retained their wealth and influence and are now leaders in industry or finance. However, many live quiet lives far from Paris, often in old mansions or chateaux with upkeep that's sometimes burdensome. These individuals don't glorify or flaunt their royal origin, nor do they see it as something to be denied. Over the years, they've simply learned to be discreet. They understand that most French people find the very idea of a monarchy and nobility distasteful.
Related: Get to Know the Royal Family Members in the UK Line of Succession
Aid for Downtrodden Nobles
The Association for Mutual Help of the French Nobility (ANF) was founded in the 1930s after two French nobles realized that the porter who was carrying their luggage shared their noble roots and decided to create and manage a fund for those nobles who needed help. Yes, there's a non-profit for nobles that's still active today in France. The Wall Street Journal reports that the ANF:
- Aids nobles who are down and out to help them reclaim some of their former glory
- Takes commoners to court who are trying to claim noble names
- Pays tuitions for promising young nobles
- Offers a meeting service for single nobles
A Game of Thrones
Being part of the dethroned royalty of France is a game of thrones, or what might best be described as a game of thorns. The pretenders' families squabble about who should be the rightful heir to a non-existent throne, and the pretenders fight each other for an imaginary throne. So while members of the French royal lines survive, none are destined to be King of France.
