No Woman Shall Rule In France

In 1216, Prince Louis of France was proclaimed King of England. It didn't stick. A century later, in 1328, Edward III of England returned the favour. He was the closest male heir to King Charles IV of France - his sister's son - and in rejecting his claim, the French codified a rule that not only can a woman not inherit the French throne, but the inheritance can never pass through a woman either.

They also sparked off the Hundred Years' War, during which at different times England controlled most of France. If things had gone differently, Edward III could have been King of France - but with the law holding that at each generation, all male lines must be exhausted before inheritence through (never by) a woman can be considered.

Historical monarchs are bolded. Other members of the line of succession are italicised. Only children and consorts relevant to the succession are included.

1. Edward I
b. 1312, r. 1328-1377
== Philippa of Hainault

King of England.




2. Richard I
b. 1367, r. 1377-1400
== Anne of Bohemia
== Isabella of Valois

King of England.


3. Henry II
b. 1367, r. 1400-1413
== Mary de Bohun
== Joanna of Navarre

King of England.


4. Henry III
b. 1386, r. 1413-1422
== Catherine of Valois

King of England.


5. Henry IV
b. 1421, r. 1422-1471
== Margaret of Anjou

King of England.








6. Afonso I
b. 1432, r. 1477-1481
== Isabel of Coimbra
== Joanna of Castile

King of Portugal.


7. John II
b. 1455, r. 1481-1495
== Eleanor of Viseu

King of Portugal.




8. Manuel I
b. 1469, r. 1495-1521
== Isabel of Aragon
== Maria of Aragon

King of Portugal.


9. John III
b. 1502, r. 1521-1557
== Catherine of Austria

King of Portugal.




10. Sebastian I
b. 1554, r. 1557-1578
King of Portugal.




11. Henry V, the Cardinal-King
b. 1512, r. 1578-1580
King of Portugal.




12. Ranuccio I
b. 1569, r. 1580-1622
== Margherita Aldobrandini

Duke of Parma.
Claimant during
Portuguese succession crisis.


13. Alessandro I
b. 1610, r. 1622-1630
Deaf and dumb
from birth.
14. Odoardo I
b. 1612, r. 1630-1646
== Margherita de' Medici

Duke of Parma.


15. Ranuccio II
b. 1630, r. 1646-1694
== Margaret Yolande of Savoy
== Isabella d'Este
== Maria d'Este of Modena

Duke of Parma.


16. Francesco I
b. 1678, r. 1694-1727
== Dorothea Sophia of the Palatinate

Duke of Parma.
Younger than Odoardo Farnese,
but inherited due to
Elisabetta's lack of heirs.




17. Charles V
b. 1716, r. 1727-1788
== Maria Amalia of Saxony

King of Spain.


18. Charles VI
b. 1748, r. 1788-1819
== Maria Luisa of Parma

King of Spain.
Abdicated.


19. Ferdinand I
b. 1784, r. 1819-1833
== Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily
== Maria Isabel of Portugal
== Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony
== Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies

King of Spain.
Abdicated.


20. Charles VII
b. 1788, r. 1833-1855
== Maria Francisca of Portugal

Carlist pretender
to throne of Spain.


21. Charles VIII
b. 1818, r. 1855-1861
== Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

Carlist pretender
to throne of Spain.
22. John II
b. 1822, r. 1861-1887
== Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este

Carlist pretender to throne
of Spain. Legitimist pretender
to throne of France.


23. Charles IX
b. 1848, r. 1887-1909
== Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este

Carlist pretender to throne
of Spain. Legitimist pretender
to throne of France.


24. Jaime I b. 1870, r. 1909-1931
Carlist pretender to throne
of Spain. Legitimist pretender
to throne of France.


25. Leopold I
b. 1897, r. 1931-1958
== Dagmar Nicolics-Podinje, Baroness of Wolfenau




26. John III
b. 1951, r. 1958-????
#2945 In line of
succession to
the British throne.