Louis of France(21 or 24 February 1244 – 11 January 1260) was the eldest son of KingLouis IX of Franceand his wifeMargaret of Provence.[1]Asheir apparentto the throne, he served asregentfor a brief period.
| Louis of France | |
|---|---|
 Prince Louis in prayer; drawing of 13th-century stained glass window inChartres Cathedral | |
| Regent of France | |
| Regency | 1252–1254 |
| Born | 21 or 24 February 1244 |
| Died | 11 January 1260(aged 15) Paris |
| Burial | |
| House | Capet |
| Father | Louis IX of France |
| Mother | Margaret of Provence |
Regency
editIn 1248, King Louis and Queen Margaret traveled toEgyptto participate in theSeventh Crusade.During their absence, his grandmother,Blanche of Castile,acted asregent.However, when she died in 1252, his parents were still crusading and the eight-year-old Louis was appointed regent. He did not actually rule the country; real power was in the hands of a royal council, led by his unclesAlphonseandCharles.Nevertheless, royal deeds were sealed in his name, and correspondence to the government was addressed to him personally. The basis of the arrangement was the unwritten (at the time) principle ofprimogeniturein French law: in the absence of written instructions to the contrary, the king's eldest son automatically became regent during the king's absence. This regency ended when Louis IX returned to Paris in 1254.
Education and engagement
editIn subsequent years, Louis was educated for his future role as king. The legal scholarPierre de Fontainesdedicated his textbookConseil à un amito Prince Louis. On 20 August 1255, he was betrothed toAlfonso X of Castile's daughterBerengaria.[1]At the time, she washeir presumptiveof Castile. However, shortly after the betrothal,Ferdinand de la Cerdawas born, displacing his sister.
Louis and his younger brotherPhilipwitnessed the sealing and oaths confirming the 1259Treaty of Paris,which was intended to end the territorial conflict between England and France that had been raging since 1180. This treaty required that KingHenry III of Englandpay homage to KingLouis IX of France,which he did the following year.
Death and aftermath
editLouis fell ill after Christmas 1259 and died shortly after New Year, at age 15 years, 10 months. The theologianVincent of Beauvaiswrote aconsolatiofor Louis IX, which is considered the traditional Christian consolation and a masterpiece in its genre. Louis' younger brother succeeded their father in 1270 asPhilip III.
Louis was buried inRoyaumont Abbey.[2]He was not buried in the royal crypt inSaint-Denis,because a decree of Louis IX reserves this crypt for crowned heads. Nevertheless, Louis' body was transferred there in 1817.
References
edit- ^abJordan 2017,p. 25-26.
- ^Denton 1992,p. 126.
Sources
edit- Denton, Jeffrey (1992). "From the Foundation of Vale Royal Abbey to the Statute of Carlisle: Edward I and Eccelsiastical Patronage". In Coss, Peter R.; Lloyd, Simon D. (eds.).Thirteenth Century England.Vol. IV: Proceedings of the Newcastle Upon Tyne. The Boydell Press. pp. 123–138.
- Jordan, William C. (2017). "A Border Policy? Louis IX and the Spanish Connection". In Liang, Yuen-Gen; Rodriguez, Jarbel (eds.).Authority and Spectacle in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Essays in Honor of Teofilo F. Ruiz.Routledge.