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So, Prince du Sang means Prince of the Blood, referring to French persons legitimately descended in the male line from the Capetian lineage. It was a unique prestige and rank that developed in Capetian France, which following clashes of dignity between the feudal lords and royal relations was established as being supreme. In effect, this meant that those closer in the line of succession would outrank the more distant, without regard to the actual titles that they held.

While in theory this included all members of the Capetian dynasty (extensive that might be), in practice only agnatic descendants of King Louis IX were recognized. One branch of the family was the Capetian House of Courtenay, who were historically famed as the Latin Emperors following the 4th Crusade, but had bankrupted themselves and undermined their footing in France proper by investing and selling away their estates to bulwark the empire.

Impoverished, the family continually petitioned their Bourbon cousins to be recognized as princes of the blood, only to be rejected. This was a state of affairs that continued until the extinction of the family's male heirs in 1733 AD.

But, what if by some act of kindness the Bourbon did grant them recognition as princes of the blood? Perhaps when they appealed to King Henry IV of France and presented their arguments and documents, he himself accepts the appeal over the deaf ears of parliament and the disdain of the more loftier princes of the blood?

What might transpire following such a reversal of fortunes? While it might be unlikely that their fortunes are significantly reversed from the rural gentry they became, might the Courtenay claw back some of their prestige or be found in some prominent parts of French court history?
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