clovis

​From the time Clovis I (b. 466, d. 511) was converted, to the French Revolution (1789-1799), Catholicism was the state religion. France was called “the eldest daughter of the Church”. The King of France was known as “His Most Christian Majesty”. All French kings went to the Latin Mass, and one was a saint: Louis IX. On July 17, 1429, Saint Joan of Arc stood in armor next to Charles VII as he was crowned.

Notice that imperialist coups began under French politicians, not kings. Not ironic. Good Catholics do not operate that way. They persuade by example more than words. Notice also the stability of almost two centuries: Louis 13, 14, 15, and 16, 1610-1792.

Noteworthy wife: Napoleon III chose a Spaniard named Eugénie du Derje de Montijo, age 23, 20th Countess of Teba and 15th Marchioness of Ardales.

“The daughter of the Count of Montijo, she received much of her education in Paris. Her beauty attracted Louis-Napoleon, who tried to seduce her, as was his custom, but Eugénie told him to wait for marriage.”
…

“Though a fervent Catholic and conservative on many other issues, she strongly advocated equality for women. She pressured the Ministry of National Education to give the first baccalaureate diploma to a woman and tried unsuccessfully to induce the Académie française to elect the writer George Sand as its first female member.”

Wikipedia with citations