France

(Today part of: region Ile de France with Paris)

Even though the West Francia rulers used the title of the King of Franks (Rex Francorum/ Roi des Francs), given the changed political setting – the rising of the (Holy) Roman Empire at the east and the extinction of the Caroline dynasty in Paris, which was succeeded by the Capet family (987.), West Francia can be referred to as The Kingdom of France and its rulers as French. The Capetian dynasty was not in anyone’s way and it presented the peak of the feudal pyramid. France did not become a part of the Roman Empire at the East. In comparison to the north Italian area, Paris was not on the way to Rome where rulers were crowned, hence no one had a reason to win this territory. Advisors, bishops, abbots, dukes and earls did not want to help their rulers. On the one hand, they would jeopardize their own judicial and military monopole and on the other, they had disputes of their own.

The Frankish rulers started to use the title of the king of France (rex Franciae/ roi de France) in the 12^th century; however, the change was purely a linguistic one since nothing really changed in the minds of people. Since the middle of the 12^th and the beginning of the 13^th century, the king’s dominance started to grow. The male successors of Hugh Capet ruled France from 987. till 1792. and from 1814. till 1848. They were either direct or indirect successors of dynasties that later on became known ad Valois and Bourbon.