ouis XII (1462-1515), king of France (1498-1515), son of Charles, duke of Orléans, born in Blois. Louis was imprisoned from 1487 to 1490 for rebellion against King Charles VIII of France. Louis was a popular king, and his financial and judicial reforms and the mildness of his rule earned him the epithet Father of the People. He led several armies in Italy, where he pursued a policy of French aggrandizement from 1499 until a coalition of powers compelled his withdrawal in 1513. He was succeeded by his son-in-law, Francis I. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]

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