The borders of modern France coincide roughly with the borders of ancient Gaul , which was inhabited by Celtic Gauls. The Gauls were conquered by the Romans in the first century BC Finally, the Gauls took over the culture and speech invaders. The same was true of Christianity , which has been adopted in these areas in the second century AD and the third century N. E. In the fourth century, N. E. Germanic tribes , principally the Franks (from which is derived the ancient name of " Francie " ) , crossed the Rhine and occupied Gaul . The modern name " France " comes from the name of the feudal goods the kings of France from the Capetian dynasty around Paris . As an independent state, France has existed since 843 , along with the division of the Carolingian Empire in the eastern part of central and western . The western part of approximately corresponded to the territory of modern France. Descendants of Charlemagne ruled France until 20 August 987 , when Hugues Capet was crowned King of France. His descendants of the dynasty of the Capetian , Valois and Bourbon gradually united the country in a series of wars and dynastic succession to the throne. The greatest of the French monarchy reached in the seventeenth century under the rule of Louis XIV. At that time, France had a huge impact on European politics, economy and culture , becoming the most populous country in Europe. At the same time, the Bourbons took the place of the Habsburgs in Spain following the Spanish war . France was a monarchy until 1792 , when as a result of the French Revolution was formed and the French Republic . Napoleon Bonaparte seized control of the Republic in 1799 taking the title and the Consul . In May of 1804 years France was proclaimed empire. As a result of several wars his armies conquered many countries , establishing in them rulers derived from the Bonaparte family . Following the fall of Napoleon in 1815 in France, was restored monarchy . As a result of the so-called 1830 . July Revolution established the constitutional July Monarchy , replaced in 1848 by the Second Republic . Short term this form of government ended in 1852 , when Louis Napoleon ( Napoleon III) announced the formation of the Second Empire. Louis Napoleon was overthrown by the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, and the Empire was replaced by the Third republic. In the twentieth century marked the slow decline of the imperial position of France. In World War I , France was still active and significant part of the coalition winners. World War II , however, proved to be a military disaster. Seizure and occupation of the country by the German army , collaboration with the Germans were the beginnings of dusk France’s role in the world , although it still retains a significant position in France in Europe. Very detriment is also on the French economy , population , and as a result contributed to the loss of the dominant position of the state in the world. The Fourth Republic was established after World War II to finally be transformed in 1958 into the present półprezydencką V Republic . In France, have special meaning and are Masonic lodges , especially the Grand Orient of France. Its members were many leading politicians . These lodges have also contributed to the erosion of the importance of the Catholic Church.