Who is the legitimate ruler of France?

[Neil]

Here's an interesting question.  Which of the two contenders is the legitimate ruler of France?

You forgot to mention Henri d'Orléans, Comte de Paris, head of the House d'Orléans and direct descendant of Philippe d'Orléans, the second son of Louis XIII and brother to Louis XIV.

The Orleanistes aren't actually legitimate.

[Tonitrus]

If you're able to take control of the country by force, I'd say that's as legitimate as any inherited monarch (who only differ in that one of their long-dead ancestors is the one who used force).   

Unless you're some backward Euro-romantic.

[Sahib]

The People.

The People never wore a crown.  They were never a king or an emperor.

For the purposes of this poll (just as in real life), assume that any republic is inherently illegitimate.

The Swiss Republic?  The Venetian Republic?

The Swiss were a bunch of uppity peasants. The Venetians were treasonous scum that turned on their most glorious liege, the Byzanteen Empire   

[Eddie Teach]

The Venetians were treasonous scum that turned on their most glorious liege, the Byzanteen Empire

Byzanteens are a modern phenomenon; the Venetians were never under their rule.

[Zoupa]

The People.

Je t'aime 

[Razgovory]

Who did the Bourbons take it from?

[Martinus]

Who did the Bourbons take it from?

Merovingians.

[Zoupa]

errr no.

Valois.

You're off by about a millenium.

[Razgovory]

errr no.

Valois.

You're off by about a millenium.

I thought they were all the same family.

[Martinus]

errr no.

Valois.

You're off by about a millenium.

It depends what he means by "take it from". I assumed he meant some sort of a coup, and not legitimate succession. Both Bourbons and Valois were two cadet branches of the House of Capet, and Capetians themselves were descendants of Carolingians.

[Martinus]

errr no.

Valois.

You're off by about a millenium.

I thought they were all the same family.

Indeed.

[Zoupa]

I think it's just more accurate to say the Bourbons took the throne from the Valois than from the Merovingians...

People usually don't use Bourbons when referring to the whole family line.

[Martinus]

But that doesn't make sense in that context to refer to a natural succession via a cadet branch as "taking the throne from".

[Viking]

Zombie Childeric III. Everybody else is a usurper.

[Josquius]

Anjou.
'Proper' monarchy just has so much more style.
And the Bonapartists are just...bleh.