Louis (Capet) de France (1187 - 1226)

Born 5 Sep 1187 in Paris, France

Ancestors

Husband of Blanca (Castilla) de Castille — married 23 May 1200 in Port-Mort, Normandy, France

Descendants

Died 8 Nov 1226 at age 39 in Chateau Montpensier, France

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Biography

Louis VIII (Capet) de France is a member of the House of Capet.

Name and Titles

Louis VIII "the lion" of France (EN)

Titles

King of France. Preceded by : Philip II King of France 1223-26 Succeeded by Louis IX

Count of Artois. Louis VIII was also known as Louis the Lion. He held the title of Count of Artois from 1190, inheriting it from his mother.

Louis VIII Augustus

Louis VIII, Son of Philip Augustus II, was King of France, House of Capet, from 1223 until his death in 1226.

Louis VIII the LionKing of the Franks; Count of ArtoisReign14 July 1223 - 8 November 1226 Coronation6 August 1223PredecessorPhilip II AugustusSuccessorLouis IXSpouseBlanche of CastileIssueLouis IX

Robert I, Count of Artois

Alphonse, Count of Toulouse and Poitiers

Saint Isabel of France

Charles I of SicilyFatherPhilip IIMotherIsabelle of HainautBorn5 September 1187(1187-09-05)

Paris, FranceDied8 November 1226 (aged 39)

Château Montpensier, FranceBurialSaint Denis Basilica

Louis VIII the Lion (5 September 1187 - 8 November 1226) reigned as King of France from 1223 to 1226. He was a member of the House of Capet. Louis VIII was born in Paris, France, the son of Philip II Augustus and Isabelle of Hainaut. He was also Count of Artois from 1190, inheriting the county from his mother.

King Louis VIII "The Lion" Capet

King Louis VIII "The Lion" Capet (September 5, 1187 - November 8, 1226) reigned as King of France from 1223 to 1226. He was a member of the House of Capet. Louis VIII was born in Paris, France, the son of Philip II Augusta and Isabelle of Hainaut. At the age of 12, Louis was married to Blanche of Castile on 23 May 1200, following prolonged negotiations between Philip Augustus and Blanche's uncle John of England.

Birth and Parentage

Louis Capet VIII, King of France "The Lion-heart" was born 5 Sep 1187 in Paris, France and married 23 May 1200 in Pont-Audemer (Beaumont), Normandy. He died 8 Nov 1226 in Montpensier, Auvergne région, France and was buried in Saint Denis Abbey, Seine-Saint-Denis département, Paris région, France. Louis married Blanca de Castilla, Regent of France. <a href="/aqwg20.htm#1636">[Parents]</a>

Louis VIII, King of France, eldest son of Philip Augustus and of Isabella of Hainaut, was born in Paris on the 5th of September 1187. Louis was short, thin, pale-faced, with studious tastes, cold and placid temper, sober and chaste in his life. He left the reputation of a saint, but was also a warrior prince.

1200 Marriage to Blanche of Castile

At the age of 12, Louis was married to Blanche of Castile on 23 May 1200, following prolonged negotiations between Philip Augustus and Blanche's uncle John of England. ^[1] (as represented in William Shakespeare's historical play King John).

On May 23, 1200, Louis married Blanche of Castile , daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile, who effectively acted as regent after Louis's death.

Blance was born March 4, 1188 and died November 26, 1252.

In 1212 Louis seized Saint-Omer and Aire to prevent a powerful Flanders from being on the flank of his county of Artois.

In 1213 he led the campaign against Ferrand, count of Flanders; in 1214, while Philip Augustus was winning the victory of Bouvines, he held John of England in check, and was victorious at La Roche-aux-Moines.

1216 First Barons War

In 1216 the English barons rebelled in the First Barons' War against the unpopular King John of England (1199-1216) and offered the throne to Prince Louis. Louis invaded and was proclaimed King in London in May 1216, although he was not crowned. There was little resistance when the prince entered London. At St Paul's Cathedral, Louis was accepted as ruler with great pomp and celebration in the presence of all of London. Many nobles, including Alexander II of Scotland (1214-49), gathered to give homage to him.^[1]

On June 14 he captured Winchester and soon conquered over half of the English kingdom. After a year and a half of war, most of the rebellious barons had defected and so Louis had to give up his claim to be the King of England by signing the Treaty of Lambeth in 1217. The effect of the treaty was that Louis agreed he had never been the legitimate king of England.^[1]

After a year and a half of war, King John's death, and his replacement by a regency on behalf of the boy king Henry III (John's son), many of the rebellious barons deserted Louis. When his army was beaten at Lincoln, and his naval forces (led by Eustace the Monk) were defeated off the coast of Sandwich, he was forced to make peace under English terms.

The principal provisions of the Treaty of Lambeth were an amnesty for English rebels, land possession to return to the status quo ante, the Channel Islands to be returned to the English crown, Louis to undertake not to attack England again, and to attempt to give Normandy back to the English crown, and 10,000 marks to be given to Louis. The effect of the treaty was that Louis agreed he had never been the legitimate king of England.

In 1216, after the barons rebelling against King John of England had offered the English throne to Louis in return for his aid, Louis went to England to aid the rebels. Initially he was successful, but eventually he was defeated at sea and suffered defections.

In 1217, when peace was concluded at Kingston, Louis was secretly paid 10,000 marks.

In the autumn of 1215 Louis received from a group of English barons, headed by Geoffrey de Mandeville, a request to "pluck them out of the hand of this tyrant" (John). Some 7000 French knights were sent over to England during the winter and two more contingents followed, but it was only after twenty-four English hostages had arrived in Paris that Louis himself prepared to invade England. The expedition was forbidden by the papal legate, but Louis set out from Calais on the 20th and landed at Stonor on the 22nd of May 1216. In three months he had obtained a strong foothold in eastern England, and in the end of July he laid siege to Dover, while part of his army besieged Windsor with a view to securing the safety of London.

The pretexts on which he claimed the English crown were set down in a memorandum drawn up by French lawyers in 1215. These claims -- that John had forfeited the crown by the murder of his nephew, Arthur of Brittany, and that the English barons had the right to dispose of the vacant throne -- lost their plausibility on the death of King John and the accession of his infant son as King Henry III in October 1216.

The papal legate, Gualo, who had forbidden the enterprise, had arrived in England at the same time as Louis. He excommunicated the French troops and the English rebels, and Henry III found a valiant defender in William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke. After the "Fair of Lincoln", in which his army was defeated, Louis was compelled to resign his pretensions, though by a secret article of the treaty of Lambeth (September 1217) he secured a small war indemnity.

Louis had assisted Simon de Montfort in his war against the Albigenses in 1215, and after his return to France he again joined the crusade. With Simon's son and successor, Amauri de Montfort, he directed the brutal massacre which followed the capture of Marmande.

Philippe II, suspicious of his son until the close of his life, took precautions to assure his obedience, narrowly watched his administration in Artois, which Louis held from his mother Isabella, and, contrary to the custom of the kings of France, did not associate his son with him by having him crowned. When Philip Augustus was dying on the 14th of July 1223, Louis VIII was anointed at Reims on the 6th of August 1224. Louis surrounded himself with councillors whom his father had chosen and formed, and continued his father's policy.

1223 King of France

Louis VIII succeeded his father on July 14, 1223; his coronation took place on August 6 of the same year in the cathedral at Reims. As King, he continued to seek revenge on the Angevins and seized Poitou and Saintonge from them in 1224. There followed the seizure of Avignon and Languedoc.^[1]

Louis The Lion, or The Lion-heart was known (in French) as Louis Le Lion, or Louis Coeur-de-lion. He was the Capetian king of France from 1223 who spent most of his short reign establishing royal power in Poitou and Languedoc.

In 1224, now king, he seized Poitou and, in 1226, he launched a successful crusade against the Albigensian heretics, capturing the major fortress of Avignon, He took a personal role in this, and was responsible for the massacre of a vast number of people, including women and children. He then returned to Paris because of dysentery. His doctor's medical opinion was that he would be cured "by using a woman". A suitable virgin was found, unknown to Louis, and was sent to his room. Louis said, "I will not commit mortal sin for whatever reason" and gave instructions that the girl should be honorably married. He then died at age thirty-nine.

Louis was the first Capetian to grant appanages on a large scale and to have a reversion clause that made alienation of royal property more difficult. Louis also developed other particular rights for the kingship, such as the concept that fealty was sworn not only to the individual king but also to the kingship. His eldest son, Louis IX (afterward St. Louis), peacefully succeeded him while his other sons received appanages.

Louis VIII the Lion (French: Louis VIII le Lion) (September 5, 1187 - November 8, 1226) reigned as King of France from 1223 to 1226. He was a member of the House of Capet. Louis VIII was born in Paris, France, the son of Philip II of France and Isabelle of Hainaut.^[1]

1223 Persecution of Jews

On 1 November 1223, he issued an ordinance that prohibited his officials from recording debts owed to Jews, thus reversing the policies set by his father Philip II of France (1180-1223). Usury (lending money with interest) was illegal for Christians to practice, according to Church law it was seen as a vice in which people profited from others' misfortune (like gambling), and was punishable by excommunication, a severe punishment. However since Jews were not Christian, they could not be excommunicated, and thus fell in to a legal gray area which secular rulers would sometimes exploit by allowing (or requesting) Jews to provide usury services, often for personal gain to the secular ruler, and to the discontent of the Church. Louis VIII's prohibition was one attempt at resolving this legal problem which was a constant source of friction in Church and State courts.^[1]

Twenty six barons accepted, but Theobald IV (1201-53), the powerful Count of Champagne, did not, since he had an agreement with the Jews that guaranteed him extra income through taxation. Theobald IV would become a major opposition force to Capetian dominance, and his hostility was manifest during the reign of Louis VIII. For example, during the siege of Avignon, he performed only the minimum service of 40 days, and left home amid charges of treachery.^[1]

Theobald IV, the powerful Count of Champagne, would become a major opposition force to Capetian dominance, and his hostility was manifest during the reign of Louis VIII. For example, during the siege of Avignon, he performed only the minimum service of 40 days, and left home amid charges of treachery.

1225 Campaign Against Southern Barons

In 1225, the council of Bourges excommunicated the count of Toulouse, Raymond VII, and declared a crusade against the southern barons. Louis happily renewed the conflict in order to enforce his royal rights. Roger Bernard the Great, count of Foix, tried to keep the peace, but the king rejected his embassy and the counts of Foix and Toulouse took up arms against him. The king was largely successful, but he did not complete the work before his death.^[1]

1226 Death

While returning to Paris, King Louis VIII became ill with dysentery, and died on November 8, 1226 in the chateau at Montpensier, Auvergne.

While returning to Paris, King Louis VIII became ill with dysentery, and died on November 8, 1226 in the chateau at Montpensier, Auvergne. The Saint Denis Basilica houses the tomb of Louis VIII. His son, Louis IX (1226-70), succeeded him on the throne.

Louis' reign was taken up with two great designs: to destroy the power of the Plantagenets, and to conquer the heretical south of France. An expedition conquered Poitou and Saintonge (1224); in 1226 he led the crusade against the Albigenses in the south, forced Avignon to capitulate and received the submission of Languedoc.

His reign, short as it was, brought gains both to the royal domains and to the power of the crown over the feudal lords

Issue

Blanche of Castile, daughter of Alphono IX of Castile and granddaughter of Henry II Plantagenet of England, bore him twelve children; his eldest surviving son, Louis IX, was his successor.

1. Philippe (September 9, 1209 - July 1218). Married (or only betrothed) in 1217 to Agnes of Donzy. Philippe Prince Of FRANCE Born: 9 SEP 1209 - , Paris, Isle De France Died: ABT 1218 -
2. Louis IX (April 25, 1214 - August 25, 1270). Louis IX (Poissy, 25 April 1214 - 25 August 1270, Tunis), King of France as successor to his father. Louis IX King Of FRANCE Born: 25 APR 1215 - , Chcateau De Poissy, Poissy, Isle De France Died: 25 AUG 1270 - Near Tunis, , Tunisia
3. Robert (September 25, 1216 - February 9, 1250). Robert (25 September 1216 - 9 February 1250, killed in Battle of Al Mansurah, Egypt): Robert I Count Of ARTOIS Born: SEP 1216 - , Paris, Isle De France Died: 8 FEB 1249/50 - , , , , Egypt
4. Jean and Jean (July 21, 1219 - 1232): Jean Prince Of FRANCE Born: SEP 1219 - , Paris, Isle De France Died: 1232
5. Alphonse of Toulouse (November 11, 1220 - August 21, 1271) Alphonse (Poissy, Corneto), Count of Poitou and Auvergne, and by marriage, of Toulouse. Alphonse Prince Of France Born Paris; died Corneto Castle, Corneto, Italy.
6. Philippe Dagobert (February 20, 1222 - 1232) Philippe Dagobert (20 February 1222-1232). Philippe Dagobert, Prince Of FRANCE Born: 20 FEB 1222 - , Paris, Isle De France Died: 1232 -
7. Isabel (June 1225 or 14 April 1225 - February 23, 1269): Isabelle Princess Of FRANCE Born: MAR 1224 - , Paris, Isle De France Died: 23 FEB 1269 -
8. Etienne (born and died 1226) Etienne Prince Of FRANCE Born: 1225 - , Paris, Isle De France Died: -
9. Charles I of Sicily (March 1227 - January 7, 1285) Charles Etienne (21 March 1226 - 7 January 1285), Count of Anjou and Maine, by marriage Count of Provence and Forcalquier, and King of Sicily.: Charles King Of SICILY Born: 21 MAR 1226/27- , Paris, Isle De France Died: 7 JAN 1285 - Foggia Castle, Foggia, Apulia

Other persons sometimes called identified as issue. These should be researched to determine who their real parents are, and then detached.

1. Blanche (1205-1206).
2. Agnes (b. and d. 1207).
3. Alphonse (b. and d. Lorrez-le-Bocage, 23 January 1213).
4. John (b. and d. Lorrez-le-Bocage, 23 January 1213), twin of Alphonse.
5. Philippe (2 January 1218-1220).Philippe Prince Of FRANCE Born: ABT 1218 - , Paris, Isle De France Died: ABT 1220 -
6. John Tristan (21 July 1219-1232), Count of Anjou and Maine.

Misc Family Groups

Henry II Duke of Brabant

Husband Henri II Duke Of BRABANT Born: ABT 1207 - , , Brabant, France Marr: ABT 1232 - , Brabant, , Belgium Died: 1 FEB 1247/48 - Father: Henri I Duke Of BRABANT Mother: Maud D' ALSACE Other Spouses:

Wife Maria Princess Of GERMANY Born: ABT 1208 - Of, Constantinopole, Constantinopole, Turkey Died: 1235 - Father: Phillipp II King Of GERMANY Mother: Irini Maria Princess Of The BYZANTINE EMPIRE Other Spouses:

Children Mahaut (Maud) Princess Of BRABANT Born: ABT 1224 - Of, , Brabant, Flandres Died: 29 SEP 1288 -

Henri III Duke of Brabant

Henri III Duke Of BRABANT Born: ABT 1233 - Of, Louvain, Brabant Died: 1260 -

Husband Thibault V Count Of CHAMPAGNE Born: 1167 - , Champagne, , France Marr: 1195 - Died: 24 MAY 1201 - Holy Land Father: Henri I Count Of CHAMPAGNE Mother: Marie Princess Of FRANCE Other Spouses:

Wife Blanche, Princess Of NAVARRE Born: ABT 1180 - , , Navarre, Spain Died: 1229 - Father: Sancho V (VI) Garcia King Of NAVARRE Mother: Sancha Princess Of CASTILE Other Spouses:

Children Teobaldo I "the Great" King Of NAVARRE Born: 3 MAY 1201 - , , Navarra, Spain Died: 8 JUL 1253 - , Pamplona, Galicia, Spain

Sancho Garcia King of Navarre

Husband Sancho V (VI) Garcia King Of NAVARRE Born: ABT 1130 - , , Navarre, Spain Marr: 1153 - Died: 27 JUN 1194 - Father: Garcias V (VI) Ramirez King Of NAVARRE Mother: Marguerite De La AIGLE ROTROU Other Spouses:

Wife Sancha Princess Of CASTILE Born: ABT 1138 - Of, Toledo, Castile Died: 5 AUG 1177 - Father: Alfonso VII "Pierre-Raimund" King Of CASTILE AND LEON AND GALICIA Mother: Berenguela Raimundo De BARCELONA Other Spouses:

Children Berengaria Princess Of NAVARRE Born: ABT 1163 - Of, Pampeluna, Navarra, Spain Died: ABT 1230 - , Abbey De Espans, Sarthe, France

Blanche, Princess Of NAVARRE Born: ABT 1180 - , , Navarre, Spain Died: 1229 -

Garcias V Ramirez King of Navarre

Husband Garcias V (VI) Ramirez King Of NAVARRE Born: ABT 1099 - , , Navarre, Spain Marr: - Died: 21 NOV 1150 - Father: Ramiro, Lord Of MONCON Mother: Ximene De BIVAR Other Spouses:

Wife Marguerite De La AIGLE ROTROU Born: ABT 1100 - Of, Aigle, Orne, France Died: 25 MAY 1141 - Father: Gilbert De LAIGLE Mother: Julienne Du PERCHE Other Spouses:

Children Blanca Princess Of NAVARRE Born: AFT 1133 - Of, Pamplona, Navarra Died: 12 AUG 1156 -

Sancho V (VI) Garcia King Of NAVARRE Born: ABT 1130 - , , Navarre, Spain Died: 27 JUN 1194 -

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 26, 2003, from Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service.

See also:

• Royal Ancestry by Douglas Richardson Vol. III page 26
• His FMG entry.
• Alan Harding (1993), England in the Thirteenth Century (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), p. 10. According to L'Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal Louis became "master of the country".
• Histoire généalogique et chronologique de la maison royale de France, des pairs, grands officiers de la Couronne, de la Maison du Roy et des anciens barons du royaume, Tome Premier, par le Père Anselme de Sainte-Marie, continuée par Honoré du Fourny, ed. la compagnie des libraires (Paris) 1726-1733. Pages 81-83.