The Bourbons were a dynasty reigning in Hungary. Originally, they were a cadet branch of the reigning house of France, the Valois.
Their true rise to fame, however, came in the 16th century, when after the won first French-Seljuk War the peace of Krems (Austria) in 1574 gave western Hungary to France. The king, Charles IX decided to put one of his relatives on the new throne. In return, the new king had to sign a document, forfeiting the right to the throne of France for himself and his offspring forever.
Bourbon kings[]
| Name | Reign | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| François / Ferenc I | 1574-1615 | father of elected king Louis / Ludwik of Poland. Also conquered the theocracy of Bohemia in the Bohemian-Hungarian War. |
| François / Ferenc II | 1615-42 | nicknamed "the impotent" |
| François / Ferenc III | 1642-47 | nephew of Ferenc II; also king Franciszek I of Poland 1636-42. Acquired Croatia, Slavonia, Transsylvania and the Banat in the peace of Györ following the second French-Seljuk War. |
| Charles / Károly IV | 1647-64 | Twin brother of Ferenc III |
| Charles / Károly V | 1664-74 | |
| François / Ferenc IV | 1674-1700 | also king Franciszek II 1688-94; lost this throne during anti-French War |
| François / Ferenc V | 1700-12 | |
| Charles / Károly VI | 1712-1770 | was suggested several times as king of France during the interregnum 1749-63. |
| Charles / Károly VII | 1770-1800 | Dragged the country into the French Republican Wars |
| Sigismond / Zsigmond III | 1800-33 | Great-grandson of Ferenc V. Inherited Austria in 1816 when the German dynasty died out |
| Dynasty died out, Hungarian Division followed | ||