Armorial of the Capetian dynasty
Arms of the Capetian Empire
Most of the members of the Capetian dynasty bore a version of the arms of France. The arms of France were adopted by the Capetian kings only in the twelfth century. Consequently, the cadet branches that had branched off in earlier periods (Burgundy, Vermandois, Dreux and Courtenay) bore entirely different arms.
Today, many coat of arms of places in France are derived from the royal arms of the French king.
French royal family
Crowns of the princes of the blood
Basic Marks of Difference
France Ancient
The most basic marks of difference used by the Capetians were the label, bordure and bend. Charges and variations were added by cadets with the expansion of the dynasty. The cross and saltire were used as marks of distinction by the spiritual peers of France.
France Modern
Under the House of Bourbon the bend gules gradually evolved into a baton couped, while the label argent and bordure gules were associated with the dukes of Orleans and Anjou, respectively.
Cadet Branches of the direct Capetians
House of Valois
Valois House of Orléans
Valois House of Anjou
Valois House of Burgundy
Illegitimate descendants of Philip the Good
House of Valois-Alençon
House of Évreux
House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon-La Marche
House of Bourbon-Vendôme
Royal House of Bourbon
Spanish House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
House of Bourbon-Parma
House of Bourbon-Parma-Luxembourg
Bourbon House of Orléans
House of Orléans-Braganza
House of Bourbon-Condé
House of Bourbon-Carency
House of Bourbon-Préaux
Illegitimate branches
House of Bourbon-Lavedan
House of Bourbon-Busset
House of Bourbon-Roussillon
House of Artois
House of Anjou-Sicily
House of Dreux
House of Dreux-Beu
House of Dreux-Brittany
House of Dreux-Brittany-Machecoul
Avaugour branch, Counts of Goëllo
House of Courtenay
House of Vermandois
House of Burgundy
House of Burgundy-Portugal
References
Bibliography
Louda, Jiri; Maclagan, Michael (1993) [1981]. Les Dynasties d'Europe (in French).
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Armorial of the Capetian dynasty” is arms of the Capetian Empire. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Armorial, Capetian and dynasty, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “arms of the Capetian Empire” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Chronology, provenance and viewpoint should be read together before a broad social or political interpretation is accepted. The source revision retrieved here is dated Mar 29, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1462061. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1993 and 1981.
Official terminology may obscure informal participation, dissent or communities documented only indirectly. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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