House of Bourbon summary

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House of Bourbon, One of the most important ruling houses of Europe. Its members were descended from Louis I, duc de Bourbon from 1327 to 1342, grandson of the French king Louis IX. Bourbons subsequently ruled in France (1589–1792, 1814–48); in Spain (1700–1868, 1870–73, 1874–1931, and since 1975); and in Naples and Sicily (1735–1861). Among its prominent members were Henry IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Philip V.

Louis XV, detail of a portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud; in the Chateau de Versailles

Louis XV Summary

Louis XV was the king of France from 1715 to 1774, whose ineffectual rule contributed to the decline of royal authority that led to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. Louis was the great-grandson of King Louis XIV (ruled 1643–1715) and the son of Louis, duc de Bourgogne, and

Kingdom of Naples Summary

Kingdom of Naples, state covering the southern portion of the Italian Peninsula from the Middle Ages to 1860. It was often united politically with Sicily. By the early 12th century the Normans had carved out a state in southern Italy and Sicily in areas formerly held by the Byzantines, Lombards,

Charles III Summary

Charles III was the king of Spain (1759–88) and king of Naples (as Charles VII, 1734–59), one of the “enlightened despots” of the 18th century, who helped lead Spain to a brief cultural and economic revival. Charles was the first child of Philip V’s marriage with Isabella of Parma. Charles ruled as

The Great Condé, engraving by Robert Nanteuil, 1662

Louis II de Bourbon, 4 prince de Condé Summary

Louis II de Bourbon, 4e prince de Condé was the leader of the last of the series of aristocratic uprisings in France known as the Fronde (1648–53). He later became one of King Louis XIV’s greatest generals. The princes de Condé were the heads of an important French branch of the House of Bourbon.