Louis of France facts for kids

Louis of France or Louis de France refers to many important people in French history. Most often, it means one of the kings of France who ruled under this name. There were 18 kings named Louis, from the early Middle Ages to the 19th century.

This name was also used by many other members of the French royal family who were not kings themselves. They often played important roles in the kingdom.

Kings of France Named Louis

Many kings of France were named Louis. They ruled over different periods, each leaving their mark on history. Here are some of the most famous ones:

Early Kings: Louis I to Louis V

• Louis the Pious (died 840): He was the son of the famous emperor Charlemagne. Louis the Pious is counted as Louis I. He ruled a large empire.
• Louis the Stammerer (died 879): Son of Charles the Bald, he was Louis II. He faced many challenges during his short reign.
• Louis III of France (died 882): He ruled alongside his brother Carloman II. They worked together to defend their kingdom.
• Louis IV of France (died 954): Known as Louis d'Outremer, which means "Louis from Overseas." He spent time in England before becoming king.
• Louis V of France (died 987): Called Louis le Fainéant, meaning "Louis the Do-Nothing." He was the last Carolingian king of France.

Medieval Kings: Louis VI to Louis XI

• Louis VI of France (died 1137): Known as Louis the Fat. He worked to strengthen the power of the French crown.
• Louis VII of France (died 1180): Called Louis the Younger. He went on the Second Crusade.
• Louis VIII of France (died 1226): Known as Louis the Lion. He was king for only three years but made important gains for France.
• Louis IX of France (died 1270): Also known as Saint Louis. He was a very religious king. He is famous for his fairness and for leading crusades.
• Louis X of France (died 1316): Called Louis the Quarreller. His short reign saw some important changes in French law.
• Louis XI of France (died 1483): Known as Louis the Prudent. He was very clever and helped unite France after the Hundred Years' War.

Modern Kings: Louis XII to Louis XVIII

• Louis XII of France (died 1515): He was a popular king, known for being kind to his people.
• Louis XIII of France (died 1643): Called Louis the Just. He ruled with the help of his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu.
• Louis XIV of France (died 1715): Known as the Sun King and Louis the Great. He ruled for a very long time and built the Palace of Versailles. He made France very powerful in Europe.
• Louis XV of France (died 1774): Called Louis the Beloved. His reign saw France involved in many wars.
• Louis XVI of France (executed 1793): He was the last king of France before the French Revolution.
• Louis XVII of France (died 1795): He was the son of Louis XVI. He died in prison as a child and never truly ruled as king.
• Louis XVIII of France (died 1824): He became king after the French Revolution and the fall of Napoleon. He helped restore the monarchy.
• Louis XIX of France (died 1844): Louis-Antoine, Duke of Angoulême. He was technically king for less than an hour in 1830 before giving up the throne.

Other Important People Named Louis

Besides the kings, many other members of the French royal family were named Louis. They often held important titles like Duke or Dauphin (the title for the heir to the throne).

Notable Royal Family Members

• Louis of France (1244–1260): He was the oldest son of King Louis IX.
• Louis of France (1263–1276): He was the oldest son of King Philip III.
• Louis d'Évreux (1276–1319): Count of Évreux, he was the sixth son of King Philip III.
• Louis I of Naples (1339–1384): He was the second son of King John II of France. He became king of Naples.
• Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans: He was the second son of King Charles V of France.
• Louis, Dauphin of France and Duke of Guyenne: He was the third son of King Charles VI.
• Louis of France (1458–1460): He was the oldest son of King Louis XI.
• Louis of France (1549–1550): Duke of Orléans, he was the second son of King Henry II.
• Louis, Dauphin of France (1661–1711): He was the eldest son of the famous King Louis XIV. He was known as "the Grand Dauphin."
• Louis François of France (1672–1672): Duke of Anjou, he was the third son of King Louis XIV. He died very young.
• Louis, Dauphin of France (1682–1712): He was a grandson of King Louis XIV. He was also known as "the Little Dauphin."
• Louis, Duke of Brittany (1704–1705): He was a great-grandson of King Louis XIV.
• Louis, Dauphin of France (1707–1712): Another great-grandson of King Louis XIV.
• Louis, Dauphin of France (1729–1765): He was the son of King Louis XV. He was the father of King Louis XVI.
• Louis of France (1751–1761): Duke of Burgundy, he was a grandson of King Louis XV.
• Louis-Joseph, Dauphin of France (1781–1789): He was the elder son of King Louis XVI. He died before his father.
• Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou (born 1974): He is sometimes called Louis de Bourbon. He is a modern-day pretender to the French throne.

See also

In Spanish: Luis de Francia para niños