Hugh Capet, << ka PAY >> (940?-996), was king of France from 987 to 996. Three of his ancestors had been French kings during the 800’s and 900’s. Kings descended from Hugh ruled France without interruption from 996 until 1792 and again from 1814 to 1848. A line of French kings related to Hugh took its name from him and became known as the Capetian dynasty. This dynasty replaced the Carolingian family of French kings, who were descended from the great French ruler Charlemagne.
Hugh was head of an important family in northern France. The leading princes of France elected him king in 987. As king, Hugh had little power outside his ancestral lands. But in 987, he arranged to have his son Robert elected king-designate, or the king’s successor. The next several kings designated their heirs in a similar way, and the French monarchy eventually became hereditary.
