Citoyen Capet

by Its_Mart

Dear Reddit,

While studying for my history exam next month I stumbled unto something peculiar. In the French revelution, during his trial, Louis XVI is called citizen Capet. I originanally thought this was his Family name, his Dynasty. However, after some backtracking I disvovered that Louis's dynast was called Bourbon ad that the Capet-dynasty ruled France 300 years earlier. Could someone explain this?

AbouBenAdhem

The Bourbons are just a cadet branch of the Capet dynasty. They’re all direct male-line descendents of Hugh Capet, and would all bear his surname if they were private citizens.