ouis XI (1423-83), king of France, the
eldest son of Charles VII, was born in Bourges. He raised France
from the degradation of the Hundred Years’ War and gave to
the government the unity and vigor that the times required. In
his internal administration he made great use of the new ideas of
Roman law which were fast coming into vogue. He has been called
the first of modern statesmen, and may be compared to his younger
contemporary, Henry VII of England. [World Wide Illustrated
Encyclopedia, 1935]
Louis XI (1423-83), king of France (1461-83), son and
successor of Charles VII, who continued his father's work of
restoring unity and stability to France after the ravages of the
Hundred Years' War.
Louis was born in Bourges on July 3, 1423. After joining with
discontented nobles in an unsuccessful rebellion against Charles
VII in 1440, he was pardoned and made governor of Dauphiné,
where he showed great administrative ability. After the death of
his first wife, Margaret of Scotland, Louis defied his father by
marrying Charlotte of Savoy in 1457. From 1456 to 1461 he lived
at the court of Philip the Good, duke of Bourgogne. Louis was
known as The Spider because of his ugliness and the skill with
which he maneuvered against his enemies. After he became king,
his greatest antagonist was Charles the Bold, Philip's successor
as duke of Bourgogne. Charles was influential in forming a
conspiracy of nobles called the League of the Public Weal,
against Louis in 1465. In his efforts to curb the powers of the
great French nobles, Louis relied on the support of the lower
nobility and the middle class. After Charles the Bold's defeat
and death in 1477, Louis continued the war against Charles's
daughter, Mary of Bourgogne. He added Anjou, Maine, Provence, and
other regions to his kingdom in 1480-81; in 1482 he divided the
Bourguignon territories with Mary's husband, Maximilian of
Habsburg (later Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I). During most of
his despotic reign Louis relentlessly consolidated the royal
power, employing bribery, diplomacy, intrigue, treachery, and,
occasionally, war. By consolidating his power, he laid the
foundation for the absolute monarchy in France, and by promoting
industry and commerce he increased the country's wealth. He died
at Plessis-les-Tours on August 30, 1483, and was succeeded by his
son Charles VIII. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]
Back