3. House of Bourbon
The Bourbons can trace their lineage back to one of the greatest royal families in Europe, the Kapetians. Bourbons became royalty in 1268, when King Louis IX married the daughter of Lord of Bourbon. Today, this royal family holds the thrones of Spain and Luxembourg. Although the ruling family of Luxemburg is officially called Nassau-Weilburg, the current Grand Duke Henry is a grandson of Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma. The Spanish branch ascendance to the throne triggered one of the greatest conflicts in European history, the War of the Spanish succession. The object of the war was preventing the unification of Spain and France under one monarch and saw these two countries pitted against almost entire European continent. At the end of the war, Phillip V of Bourbon was allowed to keep the throne of Spain, but was removed from the succession line of the French one. The Bourbons split into Spanish and French branches. The Spanish Bourbons are still on the throne in the person of Felipe VI, while French side of the family was removed from Versailles when Louis Philippe I of bourbon-Orleans was forced to abdicate in 1848. Today, his heir and the heir of the French throne is Henri d’Orléans, Count of Paris.
