Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/531

* LOUIS VI. 473 LOUIS XL England. He died August 1, 1137. Consult: Luehaire, Louis VI. le Oros (Paris, 1889) ; id., Les communes franeaises (Paris, 1890) ; id., Bis- toire des instilulions monarchiques tie la France sous les premiersi Vapitiens (Paris, 1891). LOUIS VII., LE Jeixe, i.e. the Young (c.ll20- 80). King of France from 1137 to 1180. He was the son of Louis VI., whom he succeeded in 1137. Just before his father's death he had mar- ried Eleanor of Aquitaine (q.v. ). In 1147 he went on the Second Crusade, accompanied by his wife, whose frivolous conduct in the Holy Land aroused much scandal. In 1152 he was divorced from Eleanor, who married within a few weeks Henry Plantagenet, bringing him as her dowry Aquitaine with other lands, and making the Eng- lish King more powerful in France than Louis himself. (See Hexry 11. of England.) A war broke out in 11.52 between Henry and Louis, which continued until 11(50. Louis died Septem- ber 18, 1180. Although not as vigorous as his father, he followed the policy of the latter and made his royal power respected. Consult: Lu- ehaire, Etudes sur les actes de Louis Yll. (Paris, 1885 ), and other works by the same author cited under Louis VI.; also Hirseh, Studien zur Ge- schichle Kbnig Ludwigs YII. von Frankreich (Leipzig, 1892). LOUIS VIII., LE Liox (1187-1226). King of France from 1223 to 122G. He was the son of Philip Augustas. In 1215 and 1219 he engaged in crusades against the Albigenses. During the revolt of the English barons against John the crown was offered to him by a party among the nobles. In 1216 Louis landed in England, to which he laid claim as legitimate heir, and was well received; but the death of .John and the ac- cession of Henry III. prevented his success. In 1217 he signed the Peace of Lambeth, and with- drew after receiving a large war indemnity. He succeeded his father in 1223. In 1226 he led a crusade against the Albigenses. and died while returning, Novemlier 8. 1226. In his short reign Louis followed faithfully the traditions of Philip Augustus, and increased the royal power, espe- cially in the south. His wife was Blanche of Castile (q.v.). Consult Petit-Dutaillis. Sfwrfe sur la vie et le regne de Louis VIII. (Paris, 1894). LOUIS IX., known as Saint Louis (1215- 70). King of France from 1226 to 1270. He was born April 25, 1215, and succeeded his father. Louis VIII., in 1226. His mother, Blanche of Castile, a woman of great talent and sincere piety, was Regent during liis minority, and be- stowed on him a strictly religious education, which materially influenced his character and policy. In 1242 Louis became involved in a war with Henrj' III. of England, and defeated the English at Taillebourg and at Saintes. During a dangerous illness, in 1244. he made a vow that if he recovered he would go in person on a crusade, and accordingly, having appointed his mother Regent, he sailed in August. 124S, with 40,000 men to Cyprus, whence, in the following spring, he proceeded to Egypt, thinking. b_v the conquest of tliat country, to open the way to Palestine. He took Damietta. but was after- wards defeated and taken prisoner by the Moham- medans, April 6, 1250. A ransom of a million besants procured his release on May 8. 1250, to- gether with the survivors (6000 men) of his army. He proceeded by sea to Acre, and remained in Palestine till the death of his mother, in No- vember, 1252, compelled him to return to France. He now applied him.self earnestly to the allairs of his kingdom, united certain provinces to the Crown on the lapse of feudal rights or by treaty, and made many important changes, the general tendency of which was to increase the royal power. The code of laws known as the Etablisse- ments dc Saint Louis is, however, only the work of a private compiler. Louis embarked on a new crusade July 1, 1270, and proceeded to Tunis; but a pestilence broke out in the French camp which carried off the greater part of the army and the King himself. He died .ugust 25, 1270, and his sou, Philip III., was glad to make peace and return to France. Pope Boni- face Vlll. canonized him in 1297. Louis was the most distinguished monarch of his time. His piety, justice, and mercy caused him to be trusted, while his ability made him respected. Joinville's History of ^aini Louis is the best source of in- formation as to. the character of the King, as seen by a shrewd contemporary, who was inti- mate with Louis. Consult: Berger, SaiH< Louis et Innocent IV. (Paris, 1893) ; id., Histoire de Blanche de Castile (Paris, 1895); Lecoy de la Marche, La France sous Saint Louis (Paris, 1893) ; Langlois, Saint Louis (Paris, 1887). LOUIS X., LE HuTiN. i.e. the Quarreler (1289-1316). King of France from 1314 to 1316. He was the eldest son of Philip IV. During his short reign the government was mainly in the hands of ministers. When he died, on .June 5, 1316. there was for the first time no direct male heir in the Capetian dynasty. A posthumous son (.John I.) was born, but he died in a few months, and the throne went to Louis's brother, Philip V. LOUIS XI. (1423-83). King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the eldest son of Charles VII., and was born at Bourges, July 3, 1423. Louis was by nature cruel, tyrannical, and per- fidious, and in 1440 and 1456 he made unsuccess- ful attempts against his father's throne. He was compelled to flee to Brabant in 1456 and sought the protection of Philip the Good. Duke of Burgundy, with whom he remained till his father's death in 1461, when he succeeded to the crown. The severe measures which he immedi- ately adopted against the great vassals led to a coalition against liim, at the head of which were the gi-eat houses of Burgundy and Brittany. (See League of the Public Weal.) Louis owed his success over the princes more to his artful policy than to arms. When tlic war threatened to break out anew, he invited Charles the Bold (q.v.), Duke of Burgundy, to a friendly confer- ence at Peronne. in October. 1468. His agents meanwhile had stirred up the people of Li^ge to revolt against the Duke, upon the news of which occurrence Charles made the King a prisoner, and extorted from him a humiliating treaty. Louis, however, did not observe tliis treaty, and a eon- test broke out. which lasted until the death of Charles the Bold in 1477. Charles was aided by Edward IV. of England, while Louis incited the Swiss and Ren6 of Lorraine to oppose the ambi- tious undertakings of Charles. Charles the Bold left an only daughter, the celebrated Mary of Burgundy, who marricil JTaxiniilian of .ustria. Louis claimed a great part of the Burgundian territories as male fiefs lapsed to the superior.