House of Bourbon

Originating out of the French House of Capet in the 10th century the House of Bourbon would emerge one of the preeminent royal families of Western Europe by the 1500s. At its height, the house had lineages in France, Spain, and Italy. Accumulating wealth and clout through several key engagements throughout France, the Bourbons eventually reached their apex under the reign of King Louis XIV, widely considered the greatest monarch in French history. His rule was renowned for its military proactivity, record-setting longevity (72 years on the throne), and royal opulence, emblemized by the world-famous Palace of Versailles. In an era of globe-spanning imperial developments, the Bourbons were notable for their heavy centralization of royal power. To keep their ever-growing holdings under more direct supervision, they passed a series of sweeping reforms in the early 1700s. These policies, however, would prove extremely controversial during the following generations, eventually culminating in the French Revolution in 1789.

From the game's History encyclopedia, AoE3: DE 100.19.18309.