Louis XI

Louis XI (1423-1483), king of France (1461-1483), 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 Burgundy. 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 Burgundy. 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 Burgundy. He added Anjou, Maine, Provence, and other regions to his kingdom in 1480 and 1481; in 1482 he divided the Burgundian 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.