This is a list of the women who have been Queens consort or Empresses consort of the realm of France. As all monarchs of France have been required by law to be male, there has never been a Queen or Empress regnant of France (although many women have ruled France as Queen regents).
Since 987 there have been 53 French consorts: 49 Queens, 3 Empresses and one untitled consort (Madame de Maintenon). Ingeborg of Denmark and Anne of Brittany were each queen more than once. Marie Josephine Louise of Savoy was queen de jure during the Republican and Imperial periods, but never wife of the de facto head of the French state.
From 1285 - 1328, the crowns of Navarre and France were united by virtue of the marriage of Joan I of Navarre, Queen regnant of Navarre and Queen-consort of France, to King Philip IV of France, and by the succession of their three sons, Louis X, Philip V, and Charles IV. Thus, the wives of these three Kings were Queen-consort not only of France but of Navarre. With the death of Charles IV, however, Navarre passed out of the hands of the French Kings until 1589, and the succession to the French throne of Henry IV of France.
Upon Henry's succession, his wife, Marguerite de Valois, who was already Queen consort of Navarre, also became Queen consort of France. Thereafter, until 1791, Queens of France were also Queens of Navarre; the crown of Navarre merged with the French crown in 1620 but the French kings continued to use the title of King of Navarre until 1791. The title 'King of Navarre' was reassumed with the Restoration of 1814-15, and dropped with the Revolution of 1830; the Bonaparte and Orleans consorts did not use it.
Many French consorts acted as regents for their husbands or children, during their minorities. These were:
Madame de Maintenon, mistress of Louis XIV, married the king in the winter of 1685-1686 privately by François de Harlay de Champvallon, archbishop of Paris, in the presence, it is believed, of Père la Chaise, the king's confessor, the Marquis de Montchevreuil, the chevalier de Forbin, and Alexandre Bontemps. Owing to the inequality of social status, she and the King did not marry openly (which would have allowed her to become Queen). No written proof of the marriage is extant, but that it took place is nevertheless certain. It is important to remember that Madame de Maintenon was never Queen of France, simply a royal consort.
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ermentrude of Orléans | Udalriching | 823 | 842 | 869 | Charles II the Bald | ||||
Richilde of Provence | Bosonid | c.845 | 870 | 5/6 October 877 | 2 June 910 | ||||
Adelaide of Paris | c. 850-853 | February 875 | 5/6 October 877 | 10 April 879 | 10 November 901 | Louis II the Stammerer | |||
Richardis | Ahalolfinger | c.840 | 862 | 12 December 884 | 13 January 888 | 18 September, 894-896 | Charles the Fat | ||
Théodrate of Troyes | 868 | before 885 | February 888 | 1 January 898 | 903 | Odo I | |||
Frederonne | 887 | 907 | 917 | Charles III the Simple | |||||
Eadgifu of England | Wessex | 902 | 7 October 919 | 922 | after 955 | ||||
Béatrice of Vermandois | Carolingian | c.880 | 895 | 922 | 923 | after 931 | Robert I | ||
Emma of France | Robertian | 894 | 921 | 13 July 923 | 934 | Rudolph | |||
Gerberga of Saxony | Liudolfing | c.913 | 939 | 10 September 954 | 5 May 984 | Louis IV | |||
Emma of Italy | Bosonid | c.948 | 965 | 26 March 986 | ? | Lothair | |||
Picture | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide of Aquitaine | Poitiers | c. 945 | 970 | 3 July 987 | 24 October 996 | 1004 | Hugh Capet of France | ||
Susanna of Italy | Ivrea | c. 937 | 988/989 | 996 | 996 | 7 February 1003 | Robert II of France | ||
Bertha of Burgundy | Welf (Elder) | c. 952 | 996 | 1000 | 1035? | ||||
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Constance of Arles | Arles | 973 | 1003 | 20 July 1031 | 25 July 1034 | |||
Matilda of Frisia | Frisia | c. 1024 | 1034 | 1044 | Henry I of France | ||||
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Anne of Kiev | Rurik of Kiev | c. 1024 | 19 May 1051 | 4 August 1060 | 1075 | |||
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Bertha of Holland | Gerulfingian | c. 1055 | 1072 | 1092 | 1094 | Philip I of France | ||
Bertrade de Montfort | Montfort | c. 1070 | 15 May 1092 | 29 July 1108 | 1117 | ||||
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Adélaide de Maurienne | Savoy | 1092 | 3 August 1115 | 1 August 1137 | 18 November 1154 | Louis VI of France | ||
align=center | align=center| Eleanor of Aquitaine | Poitiers | 1122 | 22 July 1137 | 1137 | ? | 21 March 1152 annulment |
1 April 1204 | Louis VII of France |
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Constance of Castile | Anscarid Burgundy (Castilian Branch) | 1141 | 1154 | 1154 | 1160 | |||
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Adèle of Champagne | Blois | c. 1140 | 1164 | ? | 18 September 1180 | 4 June 1206 | ||
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Isabelle of Hainaut | Flanders | 5 April 1170 | 1180 | 29 May 1180 | 1190 | Philip II of France | ||
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Ingeborg of Denmark | Estridson | 1175 | 15 August 1193 | 25 August 1193 | 5 November 1193 separated |
29 July 1236 | ||
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Agnes of Merania | Andechs-Merania | about 1175 | June 1196 | ? | 1200 repudiated |
20 July 1201 | ||
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Ingeborg of Denmark | Estridson | 1175 | 15 August 1193 | 1200 restored |
14 July 1223 husband's death |
29 July 1236 | ||
Blanche of Castile | Anscarid Burgundy (Castilian Branch) | 4 March 1188 | 22 May 1200 | 14 July 1223 | 6 August 1223 | 8 November 1226 | 26 November 1252 | Louis VIII of France | |
Marguerite of Provence | Barcelona (Provençal Branch) | c. 1221 | 27 May 1234 | ? | 25 August 1270 | 21 December 1295 | Louis IX of France | ||
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Isabella of Aragon | Barcelona (Aragonese Branch) | 1247 | 28 May 1262 | 25 August 1270 | Not crowned | 28 January 1271 | Philip III of France | |
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Maria of Brabant | Leuven | 1254 | 21 August 1274 | 24 June 1275 | 5 October 1285 | 10 January 1321 | ||
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Joan I of Navarre | Blois | c.14 January 1271 | 16 August 1284 | 5 October 1285 | ? | 4 April 1305 | Philip IV of France | |
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Margaret of Burgundy | Capetian Burgundy (Direct Line) | 1290 | 23 September 1305 | 29 November 1314 | Never Crowned | 15 August 1315 | Louis X of France | |
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Clémence d'Anjou | Second House of Anjou | 1293 | 19 August 1315 | 24 August 1315 | 5 June 1316 | 12 October 1328 | ||
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Jeanne II, Countess of Burgundy | Chalons-Burgundy | 1291 | 1307 | 20 November 1316 | 9 January | 3 January 1322 | 21 January 1330 | Philip V of France |
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Blanche of Burgundy | c.1296 | 1308 | 3 January 1322 | Never Crowned | 19 May 1322 | April 1326 | Charles IV of France | |
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Marie de Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 1304 | 21 September 1322 | 15 May 1323 | 26 March 1324 | |||
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Jeanne d'Évreux | Évreux | 1310 | 5 July 1325 | 11 May 1326 | 1 February 1328 husband's death | 4 March 1371 | ||
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joan the Lame | Capetian Burgundy (Direct Line) | 24 June 1293 | July 1313 | 1 February/1 April 1328 | 27 May 1328 | 12 September 1348 | Philip VI of France | ||
Blanche d'Évreux | Évreux (Navarre) | 1330-1333 | January of either 1349 or 1350 | Not crowned | 22 August 1350 husband's death | 5 October 1398 | |||
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Joanna I of Auvergne | Auvergne | 8 May 1326 | 13 February 1349 | 22 August 1350 | 26 September 1350 | 29 September 1360 | John II of France | |
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Joanna of Bourbon | Bourbon | 3 February 1338 | 1350 | 8 April 1364 | 19 May 1364 | 4 February 1378 | Charles V of France | |
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Isabeau of Bavaria | Wittelsbach | c.1370 | 17 July 1385 | 1389 | 21 October 1422 husband's death |
24 September 1435 | Charles VI of France | |
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Marie of Anjou | Valois-Anjou | 14 October 1404 | 18 December 1422 | ? | 22 July 1461 husband's death |
1463 | Charles VII of France | |
Charlotte of Savoy | Savoy | 1443 | 14 February 1451 | 22 July 1461 | ? | 30 August 1483 husband's death |
1 December 1483 | Louis XI of France | |
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Anne of Brittany | Montfort of Brittany | 25 January 1477 | 6 December 1491 | 8 February 1492 | 7 April 1498 husband's death |
9 January 1514 | Charles VIII of France | |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Joan of Valois | Valois | 23 April 1464 | 8 September 1476 | 7 April 1498 husband's ascension |
Not crowned | December 1498 annulment |
4 February 1505 | Louis XII of France |
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Anne of Brittany | Montfort of Brittany | 25 January 1477 | 8 January 1499 | 18 November 1502 | 9 January 1514 | |||
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Mary Tudor | Tudor | 18 March 1496 | 9 October 1514 | 5 november 1514 | 1 January 1515 husband's death |
25 June 1533 | ||
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Claude of France | Valois-Orléans | 14 October 1499 | 18 May 1514 | 1 January 1515 husband's ascension |
10 May 1517 | 20 July 1524 | Francis I of France | ||
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Eleanor of Habsburg | Habsburg | 15 November 1498 | 4 July 1530 | 5 March 1532 | 31 March 1547 husband's death |
25 February 1558 | ||
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Catherine de' Medici | Medici | 13 April 1519 | 28 October 1533 | 31 March 1547 husband's ascension |
10 June 1549 | 10 July 1559 husband's death |
5 January 1589 | Henry II of France |
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Mary I of Scotland | Stewart | 8 December 1542 | 24 April 1558 | 10 July 1559 husband's ascension |
Not crowned because already crowned Queen of Scotland |
5 December 1560 husband's death |
8 February 1587 | Francis II of France |
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Elisabeth of Austria | Habsburg (Austrian Branch) | 5 June 1554 | 26 November 1570 | 25 March 1571 | 30 May 1574 husband's death |
22 January 1592 | Charles IX of France | |
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Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont | Lorraine | 30 April 1553 | 13 February 1575 | Not crowned | 2 August 1589 husband's death |
29 January 1601 | Henry III of France | |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Marguerite de Valois | Valois-Angoulême | 14 May 1553 | 18 August 1572 | 2 August 1589 husband's accession |
Not crowned | 1599 divorce |
27 May 1615 | Henry IV of France |
Marie de' Medici | Medici | 26 April 1573 | 5 October? 1600 | 13 May 1610 | 14 May 1610 husband's death |
3 July 1642 | |||
Anne of Austria | Habsburg (Spanish Branch) | 22 September 1601 | 24 November 1615 | Not crowned | 14 May 1643 husband's death |
20 January 1666 | Louis XIII of France | ||
Maria Theresa of Spain | Habsburg (Spanish Branch) | 10 September 1638 | 9 June 1660 | Not crowned | 30 July 1683 | Louis XIV of France | |||
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Françoise d'Aubigné, marquise de Maintenon (Royal consort) | d'Aubigné | 27 November 1635 | 1685 | Not crowned | 1 September 1715 husband's death |
15 April 1719 | ||
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Maria Leszczyńska | Leszczyński | 23 June 1703 | 4 September 1725 | Not crowned | 24 June 1768 | Louis XV of France | ||
Marie Antoinette of Austria | Habsburg-Lorraine | 2 November 1755 | 19 April 1770 (by proxy) 16 May 1770 |
10 May 1774 husband's ascension |
Not crowned | 21 September 1792 husband's deposition |
16 October 1793 executed |
Louis XVI of France | |
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Marie Josephine Louise of Savoy (de jure) | Savoy | 2 September 1753 | 16 April 1771 | 16 June, 1795 husband's proclamation |
Not crowned | 13 November 1810 | Louis XVIII of France | |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marie Josephe Tascher de la Pagerie, called Empress Joséphine | de la Pagerie | 23 June 1763 | 9 March 1796 | 18 May 1804 husband's ascension |
2 December 1804 | 10 January 1810 divorce |
29 May 1814 | Napoleon I of France | |
Marie Louise of Austria, Empress | Habsburg-Lorraine | 12 December 1791 | 11 March 1810 (by proxy) 1 April 1810 |
Not crowned? | 6 April 1814 husband's abdication |
17 December 1841 | |||
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte of France | Bourbon-Vendôme | 19 December 1778 | June 1799 | 2 August 1830 for 20 minutes | Not crowned | 2 August 1830 husband's abdication |
19 October 1851 | Louis XIX |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies | Bourbon-Sicily | 26 April 1782 | 25 November 1809 | 9 August 1830 husband's ascension |
Not crowned | 24 February 1848 husband's abdication |
24 March 1866 | Louis-Philippe of France | |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eugénie de Montijo, Empress | Montijo | 5 May 1826 | 30 January 1853 | Not crowned | 4 September 1870 husband's deposition |
11 July 1920 | Napoleon III of France | ||
Picture | Name | House | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Coronation | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
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