Originally published on June 24, 2024 (Episode 364)
Introduction
From 987 to 1328, the Capetian family ruled France without interruption—except they weren’t really called the Capetians, and France wasn’t yet truly France. Through high-minded ruthlessness, cunning marriages, enlightened guile, sheer luck, and plenty of persistence, one dynasty transformed a modest power into the most formidable kingdom in Christendom.
In the process the Capetians created institutions that lasted to the French Revolution—and sometimes beyond; created enduring symbols that today signify for many “The Middle Ages” or “France”; and turned a river crossing into one of the world’s most fabled cities. With me to discuss the dynasty that made France is Justine Firnhaber-Baker.
About the Guest
Justine Firnhaber-Baker is Professor of History at the University of St Andrews. She is the author most recently of House of Lilies: The Dynasty that Made France (Basic Books, 2024) and has written widely on medieval France. She previously appeared on the podcast in Episode 227, where she explored the Jacquerie—the French peasant revolt of 1358.
For Further Investigation
Related Episodes
Justine Firnhaber-Baker on “The First French Revolution”
Catherine Hanley on Matilda, the woman who nearly ruled England in her own right; and on the intertwined royal houses of France and England
Katherine Pangonis on the “Queens of Jerusalem”
Rowan Dorin on mass expulsion of Jews as medieval policy
Other Resources
Justine Firnhaber-Baker, House of Lilies: The Dynasty that Made France (Basic Books, 2024)
—, The Jacquerie of 1358: A French Peasant’s Revolt (OUP, 2022)
Catherine Hanley, Two Houses, Two Kingdoms: A History of France and England, 1100–1300 (Yale, 2022)
💬 Listen & Discuss
How should we think about dynasty-building in the Middle Ages—luck, strategy, or something in between? Was France made by its kings, or by the institutions and symbols they left behind? Share your thoughts below, and pass this along to someone who thinks Game of Thrones is fantasy without connection to reality.
Tags: Medieval France, Capetians, Monarchy, Justine Firnhaber-Baker, Dynasty
