Episode 364: House of Lilies

Historically Thinking

From 987 to 1328, the Capetian family ruled France without interruption. Except that they weren’t really called the Capetians, and France was not yet really…France. And therein lies a story. Through the ingredients of ruthless high mindedness; enlightened guile; excellent marriages and often lots of them; and sheer dumb luck, this one family created out of very uncertain beginnings the most powerful kingdom in Christendom. In the process they created institutions that lasted to the French Revolution, and sometimes beyond; instituted symbols and styles that epitomize Medieval Europe to subsequent generations; turned a small town at a river crossing into one of the most fabled cities in human history; and in the process created France. With me to discuss the Capetians is Justine Firnhaber-Baker, most recently author of House of Lilies: The Dynasty that Made France. Justine Firnhaber-Baker is Professor of History at the University of St. Andrew’s. She was last on the podcast in Episode 227, when she described and explained the Jacquerie, the French peasant’s revolt of 1358–which remains one of the most popular episodes of this podcast. For Further Information Speaking of medieval queens, we've talked with Catherine Hanley about Matilda, arguably the one woman to rule England in her own right before Elizabeth I; and with Katherine Pangonis about the Queens of the Kingdom of Jerusalem And for the other half of the story, including more on Louis VII and Blanche of Castile, see my conversation with Catherine Hanley on the intertwining of the English and French dynasties The expulsion of the Jews was mentioned, so that means I should link to my conversation with Rowan Dorin on expulsion as a matter of medieval policy