Louis IX of France facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louis IX |
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Contemporary depiction from about 1230
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| King of France (more...) | |
| Reign | 8 November 1226 – 25 August 1270 |
| Coronation | 29 November 1226 in Reims Cathedral |
| Predecessor | Louis VIII |
| Successor | Philip III |
| Regents |
See list
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| Born | 25 April 1214 Poissy, France |
| Died | 25 August 1270 (aged 56) Tunis, North Africa |
| Burial | Basilica of St Denis |
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| Issue among others... |
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| House | Capet |
| Father | Louis VIII, King of France |
| Mother | Blanche of Castile |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Louis IX (born April 25, 1214 – died August 25, 1270), often called Saint Louis, was the King of France from 1226 to 1270. He was a very important ruler from the House of Capet. Louis was crowned king in Reims Cathedral when he was just 12 years old, after his father, Louis VIII, passed away.
His mother, Blanche of Castile, was a strong and wise woman. She ruled France as a regent (a temporary ruler) until Louis was old enough. Even after he became an adult, she remained a trusted advisor until her death. During Louis's younger years, Blanche successfully handled rebellious nobles and helped France win the Albigensian Crusade.
Louis IX was highly respected by other European rulers. His time as king is often seen as a "golden age" for France in terms of its economy and politics during the Middle Ages. Other kings sometimes asked him to help settle their disagreements.
King Louis IX made big changes to the French legal system. He created a royal court where people could directly ask the king to review legal decisions. He stopped "trials by ordeal" (where people were tested in dangerous ways to prove guilt or innocence). He also tried to end private wars between nobles and introduced the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty. To make sure his new laws were followed, he created special officers called provosts and bailiffs.
Louis IX led two Crusades: the Seventh Crusade and the Eighth Crusade. These were military expeditions against Muslim rulers in North Africa, Egypt, and the Holy Land. He was captured during the Seventh Crusade and later died from an illness during the Eighth Crusade. His son, Philip III, became king after him.
Many people throughout history have seen Louis IX as the perfect Christian king. He was a skilled knight and was popular with the public. He was a very religious man and made strict laws about religious behavior. He is the only French king to be made a saint.
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Early life and becoming king
Louis was born on April 25, 1214, in Poissy, a town near Paris. His parents were Louis the Lion and Blanche of Castile. He was baptized in a church there. His grandfather on his father's side was Philip II, who was also a king of France. His mother's father was Alfonso VIII, the King of Castile.
Louis's mother, Blanche, made sure he had good teachers. They taught him Latin, how to speak well in public, writing, military skills, and how to govern. He was nine years old when his grandfather Philip II died, and his father became King Louis VIII.
Louis was only 12 years old when his father died on November 8, 1226. He was crowned king within a month at Reims Cathedral. Because he was so young, his mother, Blanche, ruled France as a regent. She was a very religious woman. She once said:
I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should ever commit a mortal sin.
Louis had a younger brother named Charles I of Sicily (1227–1285). Charles became the Count of Anjou, starting a new branch of the royal family called the Capetian Angevin dynasty.
Even though people at the time thought Louis and his mother ruled together, historians believe Louis started ruling on his own in 1234. After that, his mother took on more of an advisory role. She continued to have a strong influence on him until she died in 1252.
Marriage and family life
On May 27, 1234, Louis married Margaret of Provence (1221–1295). She was crowned queen the next day. Margaret was the sister of Eleanor of Provence, who later married Henry III of England. Queen Margaret was also very religious, which made her a good partner for the king. They got along well and enjoyed activities like riding horses, reading, and listening to music together. However, Louis's mother, Blanche, sometimes felt jealous of their closeness and tried to keep them apart.
The Crusades of Saint Louis
In 1229, when Louis was 15, his mother helped end the Albigensian Crusade. This was a conflict against a religious group called the Cathars. The war ended with an agreement signed with Raymond VII of Toulouse.
King Louis went on two major military expeditions known as Crusades: the Seventh Crusade in 1248 and the Eighth Crusade in 1270.
Children of Louis IX
Louis and Margaret had many children. Here are some of them:
- Isabella (1241–1271)
- Louis (1243/1244–1260)
- Philip III (1245–1285), who became the next King of France.
- John Tristan (1250–1270)
- Peter (1251–1284)
- Blanche (1253–1320)
- Margaret (1255–1271)
- Robert (1256–1317)
- Agnes (1260–1327)
Two of their children died when they were very young. They were first buried at the Cistercian abbey of Royaumont. Later, in 1820, their remains were moved to the Saint-Denis Basilica.
Death and his legacy
Louis IX died on August 25, 1270, in Tunis, North Africa. He caught an illness called dysentery that spread through his army. His body was brought back to France. His son, Philip III, became the new King of France.
Becoming a saint
| Saint Louis |
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San Luis, Rey de Francia (English: Saint Louis, King of France) by Francisco Pacheco
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| King of France Confessor |
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| Venerated in | Catholic Church Anglican Communion |
| Canonized | 11 July 1297, Rome, Papal States by Pope Boniface VIII |
| Feast | 25 August |
| Attributes | The Crown of Thorns, crown, sceptre, globus cruciger, sword, fleur-de-lis, mantle, and the other parts of the French regalia |
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Pope Boniface VIII officially declared Louis a saint in 1297. He is the only king of France to be given this honor. Louis IX is often seen as the perfect example of a Christian king.
He was known for his kindness and charity. On regular days, over a hundred poor people were given meals at his home. The king himself often served these guests. His good deeds and strong religious beliefs led to stories that he joined a religious group called the Third Order of St. Francis, though it's not certain if he actually did.
The Episcopal Church celebrates him with a special day on August 25.
See also
In Spanish: Luis IX de Francia para niños
