Louis XIII

Louis XIII (1601-1643), the son of Henry IV, King of France. Being only nine years old at the death of his father, the government was conducted by Marie de' Medicis, his mother, and at his accession the country was a prey to civil dissensions, which increased on the young king's marriage with a Spanish princess. The Huguenots rose in arms, but a peace was concluded in 1623. It was now Richelieu came to the front and assumed the reins with his threefold policy of taming the nobles, checkmating the Huguenots, and humbling the house of Austria. Rochelle, the head-quarters of the Huguenots, revolted, the English assisting them, but by the strategy adopted the city was taken and the English driven to sea. Henceforth the king was nobody and the cardinal was king. The cardinal died in 1642 and the king the year after, leaving two sons, Louis, who succeeded him, and Philip, Duke of Orleans and the first of his line.

Nearby pages
Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Louis XVII, Louis XVIII