Capet

Capet refers to the Capetian dynasty, the medieval French royal house named after Hugh Capet, who was elected King of the Franks in 987. The dynasty is traditionally viewed as inaugurating hereditary rule in France, replacing the previous system of royal succession by election or appointment among rival branches. The Capetians originated in the Île-de-France region and gradually extended royal authority beyond their core lands, laying the groundwork for a centralized French monarchy.

The direct male line, often called the House of Capet, produced a long sequence of kings from Hugh Capet to Charles IV, who died in 1328 without a surviving son. Over the centuries, Capetian rulers pursued reforms, expanded royal domains, and navigated conflicts with nobility, the papacy, and foreign crowns. Notable monarchs include Louis VI (the Fat), Louis IX (Saint Louis), and Philip II (Augustus), whose efforts strengthened royal administration, justice, and territorial control, contributing to the emergence of a more centralized state.

After the death of Charles IV, the crown passed to a cadet branch, the House of Valois, beginning the Valois era. Other cadet lines—most notably the Bourbons—also traced their origins to Capet through the ages, continuing the Capetian lineage even as dynastic names changed. In historical terms, the Capetians were one of the longest-lasting and most influential medieval French dynasties, shaping political structures, succession practices, and the evolution of the French monarchy until the modern era.