A great European ruling dynasty, founded when Robert of Clermont (1256–1317), the sixth son of Louis IX of France, married the heiress to the lordship of Bourbon. The first duke was their son, Louis I (1279–1341). In 1503 the title passed to the Montpensier branch of the family, but in 1527 headship of the house of Bourbon passed to the line of Marche-Vendôme. Antoine de Bourbon (1518–62), Duc de Vendôme, became King Consort of Navarre, while his brother Louis (1530–69) was made Prince of Condé. On the death of the last Valois king in 1589, Antoine’s son became King of France as Henry IV (ruled 1589–1610). His heirs ruled France uninterruptedly until 1792: Louis XIII (ruled 1610–43), Louis XIV (ruled 1643–1715), Louis XV (ruled 1715–74) and Louis XVI (ruled 1774–92). The latter was overthrown during the French Revolution, and Louis XVII (titular king 1793–95) died without reigning; Louis XVI’s brothers Louis XVIII (ruled 1814–24) and Charles X (ruled 1824–30) both reigned after the Bourbon restoration. Louis-Philippe (ruled 1830–48), the last Bourbon King of France, was a member of the cadet Orléans branch of the family.

In 1700 Louis XIV’s second grandson became Philip V (ruled 1700–46) of Spain, thus setting in train the War of the Spanish Succession. His successors have held the Spanish throne ever since (excepting the republican period, 1931–75).