<P> The Valois line looked strong on the death of Henry II, who left four male heirs . His first son, Francis II, died in his minority . His second son, Charles IX, had no legitimate sons to inherit . Following the premature death of his fourth son Hercule François, and the assassination of his third son, the childless Henry III, France was plunged into a succession crisis over which distant cousin of the king would inherit the throne . The best claimant, King Henry III of Navarre, was a Protestant, and thus unacceptable to much of the French nobility . Ultimately, after winning numerous battles in defense of his claim, Henry converted to Catholicism and was crowned king, founding the House of Bourbon . This marked the second time the thrones of Navarre and France were united under one monarch; as different inheritance laws had caused them to become separated during the events of the Hundred Years Wars . The House of Bourbon would be overthrown during the French Revolution, replaced by a short - lived republic . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Portrait </Th> <Th> Coat of arms </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> King from </Th> <Th> King until </Th> <Th> Relationship with predecessor (s) </Th> <Th> Title </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Henry IV the Green Gallant Good King Henry (Henri) </Td> <Td> 2 August 1589 </Td> <Td> 14 May 1610 </Td> <Td> Tenth generation descendant of Louis IX in the male line By first marriage son in law of Henry II, Brother in law of Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III </Td> <Td> King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louis XIII the Just </Td> <Td> 14 May 1610 </Td> <Td> 14 May 1643 </Td> <Td> Son of Henry IV </Td> <Td> King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louis XIV the Great the Sun King </Td> <Td> 14 May 1643 </Td> <Td> 1 September 1715 </Td> <Td> Son of Louis XIII </Td> <Td> King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louis XV the Beloved </Td> <Td> 1 September 1715 </Td> <Td> 10 May 1774 </Td> <Td> Great - grandson of Louis XIV </Td> <Td> King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louis XVI the Restorer of French Liberty </Td> <Td> 10 May 1774 </Td> <Td> 21 September 1792 </Td> <Td> Grandson of Louis XV </Td> <Td> King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) (1774--1791) King of the French (Roi des Français) (1791--1792) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louis XVII (Claimant) </Td> <Td> 21 January 1793 </Td> <Td> 8 June 1795 </Td> <Td> Son of Louis XVI </Td> <Td> (Disputed) King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Portrait </Th> <Th> Coat of arms </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> King from </Th> <Th> King until </Th> <Th> Relationship with predecessor (s) </Th> <Th> Title </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Henry IV the Green Gallant Good King Henry (Henri) </Td> <Td> 2 August 1589 </Td> <Td> 14 May 1610 </Td> <Td> Tenth generation descendant of Louis IX in the male line By first marriage son in law of Henry II, Brother in law of Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III </Td> <Td> King of France and of Navarre (Roi de France et de Navarre) </Td> </Tr>

Why is there no royal family in france