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 Figure Name of Armiger and Blazon Kings of France before 1376 : Azure, semé-de-lys or.;

The arms of France was first used by Philip Augustus at the beginning of the age of heraldry. Collateral branches of the French royal family already in existence – the Dukes of Burgundy, the Counts of Vermandois and Dreux, and the Lords of Courtenay – used unrelated coats of arms, while the descendants of Philip Augustus bore the arms of France with marks of cadency.

after 1376 : Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or. and

Borne by the following:

Charles V (from 1376 to 1380) Charles VI (from 1380 to 1422) Charles VII (from 1422 to 1461) Louis XI (from 1461 to 1483) Charles VIII (from 1483 to 1498) Louis XII (from 1498 to 1515) Francis I (from 1515 to 1547) Henry II (from 1547 to 1559) Francis II (from 1559 to 1560) Charles IX (from 1560 to 1574) Henry III (from 1574 to 1589) Henry IV (from 1589 to 1610) Louis XIII (from 1610 to 1643) Louis XIV (from 1643 to 1715) Louis XV (from 1715 to 1774) Louis XVI (from 1774 to 1792) Louis XVII (used by his supporters in exile 1792–1795) Louis XVIII (from 1795 to 1824, including his periods in exile 1795–1814 and 1815) Charles X (from 1824 to 1836-from 1830 in exile)

Then borne by the following pretenders to the French throne:

Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême (from 1836 to 1844) Henri, Count of Chambord (from 1844 to 1883) Dauphins (heirs to the throne), from 1350

The first of the royal dauphins of France was Charles (future king as Charles the Wise), eldest son of John, Duke of Normandy (future king as John the Good), eldest son of Philip VI of France. He bore:

Quarterly azure semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules (for Valois); and or, a dolphin azure, crested, barbed, finned, with scales and gills gules (for Dauphiné).

Succeeding royal Dauphins bore:

Quarterly azure, three fleurs-de-lys or; and or, a dolphin azure, crested, barbed, finned, with scales and gills gules.

Crowns of the princes of the blood Type of crown Usage Crown of a son or grandson of France and peer of France

The sons of kings, and their sons, are called sons and grandsons of France. If granted an appanage was also a peerage, which was usual, they wore the crown with the blue cap. Crown of son or grandson of France

For a son of France who is not also a peer. Crown of Prince of the Blood and a peer of France

The princes of the blood are descendants, in the male line, of grandsons of France. If their appanage was also tied with a peerage of France, their crown had blue cap. Crown of a Prince of the Blood

Coronet of a prince of the blood who is not also a peer of France.

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

Figure Name of Armiger and Blazon Louis (1081 † 1137), Count of Vexin, future Louis VI the Fat Azure semé-de-lys or a label ermine..

Attributed arms, since heraldry did not exist during his lifetime Philip Hurepel (1200 † 1234), Count of Clermont, Boulogne and Dammartin, son of Philip II Augustus Azure, semé-de-lys or, a label of five points gules.

First recorded person to bear a differenced version of the arms of France. Robert I (1216 † 1250), Count of Artois, son of Louis VIII the Lion and of Blanche of Castile Azure, semé-de-lys or, a label gules, each point charged with three castles or.

These arms were used by the descendants in the male line of Robert. (House of Artois) Alphonse (1220 † 1271), Count of Poitiers and of Toulouse, son of Louis VIII the Lion and of Blanche of Castile Per pale, azure, semé-de-lys or, and gules, semé of castles or.

The castles in the arms of Robert of Artois, Alphonse of Poitiers and Charles of Anjou are derived from and allude to the arms of their mother, Blanche of Castile. Charles I (1226 † 1285), Count of Anjou, King of Sicily and Count of Provence, son of Louis VIII of France and of Blanche of Castile

before 1246: Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules charged with eleven castles or.

after 1246: Azure, semé-de-lys or, a label gules

Founder of the House of Anjou-Sicily. John Tristan (1250–1270), Count of Valois, son of Louis IX of France Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules, these arms were also borne by: Peter I (1252 † 1283), Count of Alençon, his brother. Charles (1270 † 1325), Count of Valois, Anjou and Maine, his nephew, son of Philip III the Bold, founder of the House of Valois Peter I (1252–1283), Count of Alençon, son of Louis IX of France before 1270: Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules charged with eight plates.

after 1270: Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules. Robert (1256–1317), Count of Clermont and Lord of Bourbon, son of Louis IX of France Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bend gules.

Founder of the House of Bourbon Louis (1276–1319), Count of Évreux, son of Philip III of France Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bend compony argent and gules. and

Ancestor of the House of Évreux-Navarre Philip (1291–1322), Count of Poitiers and later Philip V, King and of France and Navarre. Azure, semé-de-lys or, a label compony gules and argent. Charles (1294–1328), Count of La Marche and later Charles IV, King of France and Navarre. Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure compony gules and argent. Kings of France and Navarre: Louis X the Quarreler, Philip V the Tall, Charles IV the Fair

Queen of Navarre: Joan II

Dimidiated per pale, azure, semé-de-lys or, and gules, chains or linked in orle, cross and saltire, the centre charged with an emerald proper.

House of Valois

Figure Name of Armiger and Blazon Charles de France (1270 † 1325), Count of Valois, Alençon, Chartres and Perche (1285), Count of Anjou and Maine (1290), Duke of Anjou (1297), founder of the branch, son of Philip III, King of France before 1297: Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure-label gules.

after 1297: Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules. John of France, son of Philip VI of France, Duke of Normandy from 1332 to 1350. Became King of France as John II.

Louis I (1339 † 1384), Duke of Anjou, son of John II the Good, King of France. Founder of the House of Valois-Anjou

Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules.; Philip (1336 † 1375), Duke of Orléans, son of Philip VI of France Azure, semé-de-lys or, a label compony of gules and argent; that is, France Ancient, a label compony of gules and argent. Charles of France (1338 † 1380), Dauphin of Viennois, Duke of Normandy, eldest son of John II the Good, King of France. Became King of France as Charles V.

Quarterly, 1 and 4 azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure gules (which is for Valois); 2 and 3 or, a dolphin azure crested, barbed, and finned gules (which is for Viennois).. John (1340 † 1416), Duke of Berry, son of John II the Good, King of France.

Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure engrailed gules. Philip the Bold (1342 † 1404), Count of Touraine and Duke of Burgundy, son of John II the Good, King of France. Founder of the House of Valois-Burgundy

Azure, semé-de-lys or, a bordure compony of gules and argent. Joan (1492 † 1549), daughter of John II and then married Charles II of Navarre Per pale, 1 gules, chains or, linked in orle, cross and saltire, charged at the center with an emerald proper; and in 2 azure, semé-de-lys or, a bend compony of argent and gules and azure, semé-de-lys. Louis (1372 † 1407), Duke of Orléans, brother of Charles VI Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent. John (1372 † 1407), Duke of Touraine, son of Charles VI Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a bordure engrailed argent and gules Charles of France, Duke of Berry, then Duke of Normandy, then Duke of Guyenne (1446 † 1472), son of Charles VII, King of France In 1461: Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a bordure engrailed gules (Berry).

In 1465: Quarterly: 1 and 4, azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a bordure engrailed gules (Berry); 2 and 3, gules, two lion passants or (Normandy).

After 1469: Quarterly: 1 and 4, azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a bordure engrailed gules (Berry); 2 and 3, gules, a lion passant or (Guyenne). Saint Joan of France (1464 † 1505), daughter of Louis XI, King of France, married in 1476 to Louis XII (1462 † 1515) Dimidiated, France moderne and France moderne.

This is the arms of a married woman, wherein the dexter half represents her husband, and the sinister half represents her father, both kings of France.

Valois House of Orléans Figure Name of Armiger and Blazon Louis (1372 † 1407), Duke of Orléans, brother of Charles VI Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent, then used by: Charles (1394 † 1465), Duke of Orléans, son of Louis d'Orléans Louis II (1462 † 1515), Duke of Orléans, before he became King of France (Louis XII) in 1498, son of Charles d'Orléans   Claude of France (1499 † 1524), daughter of Louis XII of France and Anne of Brittany, then, in 1514, Queen of France Before 1514: Quarterly, azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, and ermine.

From 1514 to 1515: Per pale, azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent, and quarterly azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, and ermine.

After 1515: Per pale, azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, and quarterly azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, and ermine. Philip of Orléans (1396 † 1420), Count of Vertus, son of Louis d'Orléans Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent of three points, the central point charged with a crescent gules. John d'Orléans (1400 † 1467), Count of Angoulême, son of Louis d'Orléans Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent of three points, each point charged with a crescent gules, then used by: François (1494 † 1549), Count of Angoulême, son of Charles of Angoulême, before he became King of France (François I) in 1515

Armorial de Gilles Le Bouvier gives an alternative, for Orleans-Angoulême: Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent of three points, on the first point a crescent azure. Charles, Count of Angoulême (1459–1496), son of John, Count of Angoulême (1400 † 1467), Count of Angoulême. Quarterly, I and IV azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent charged with three crescents gules (for Orléans-Angoulême), II and III argent, a biscione azure crowned or, devouring a child carnation (for the Visconti of Milan). Charles, Count of Angoulême and Duke of Orléans, son of Francis I of France. Quarterly, I and IV azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent, II and III argent, a biscione azure crowned or, devouring a child carnation. John d'Orléans (1402 † 1468), Count of Dunois, illegitimate son of Louis d'Orléans Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent, overall a bend sinister argent,

For his descendants, the Counts of Longueville:

Azure, three fleurs-de-lys or, a label argent, overall a baton sinister argent. Marguerite (1492 † 1549), Count of Alençon, son of Charles of Orléans Francis (1518 † 1536), dauphin, Duke of Brittany, son of Francis I Quarterly, I and IV, grand-quarterly 1 and 4, azure, three fleurs-de-lys or; 2 and 3, or, a dolphin azure, crested, barbed and finned gules; II and III, grand-quarterly 1 and 4, azure, three fleurs-de-lys or; 2 and 3, ermine., then used by: