Robert of Clermont and the Foundation of the Bourbon Dynasty (c. 1272–1317)

Robert of Clermont, the sixth son of King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) and Margaret of Provence, played a pivotal role in establishing the House of Bourbon, which would later become one of the most powerful dynasties in French history.

Marriage and the Bourbon Inheritance

• Around 1272, Robert married Beatrice of Burgundy, the heiress to the Seigneury of Bourbon.
• Through this marriage, he secured the Bourbon lands, laying the foundation for the House of Bourbon.
• Although Bourbon was initially a lordship, it was later elevated to a duchy in 1327, under Robert's son, Louis I, Duke of Bourbon.

Robert of Clermont’s Role in French Politics

• Despite being a prince of royal blood, Robert’s role in French politics was relatively limited, as he was not expected to inherit the throne.
• He was injured at the Battle of Furnes (1297), which left him with mental impairments, preventing him from taking an active role in government.

The Bourbon Dynasty’s Future

• Robert died in 1317, but the House of Bourbon continued through his son, Louis I, who would become the first Duke of Bourbon in 1327.
• The Bourbon dynasty gained increasing prominence over the next two centuries, culminating in the accession of Henry IV in 1589, making the Bourbons the ruling house of France until the French Revolution.

Robert of Clermont’s marriage to Beatrice of Burgundy ensured the rise of the Bourbon dynasty, which would eventually produce some of the most influential monarchs in European history.