Louis XIII of France

Louis XIII (September 27th 1601, Fontainebleau - May 14th 1643, Saint-Germain-in-Bush hammer), king of France and Navarre (1610 - 1643). He is the son of Henri IV and Marie de Médicis and the father of Louis XIV.

Its reign is marked by the lowering of Large and the Protestants, like by the fight against the house of Habsbourg. The image of this king is inseparable from that of its principal minister, the cardinal of Richelieu, its unwavering support in the recovery of French monarchy.

Biography

Childhood

Louis XIII|13 we is rather well-known thanks to the newspaper which its doctor left, Jean Héroard. All the details of its health and its life intimates are noted there.

Louis XIII|13 grows with his/her brothers and sisters with the Château of Saint-Germain-in-Bush hammer. It is high beside the bastard ones of his father, in a rather sober atmosphere. The future king conceived of it a great aversion for the disorder and the depravity. The Louis dolphin left Saint-Germain, only in 1609. It then left to live with the Louvre at the side of his father to learn his future trade there from king.

The young king receives a rather surface education on behalf of his tutor, Gilles de Souvré. Not very interested by the Latin and the letters, the young king is rather impassioned of hunting and music (it composed several ballets). Louis XIII|13 appears also excellent draftsman and good rider, thanks to the teaching of its deputy governor, Antoine de Pluvinel. But, as its Bégaiement testifies some, it is timid and lack of confidence in him.

With died of Henri {{Romanian|IV|4}} in 1610, Louis XIII|13 go up on the throne. It is only 9 years old. The capacity is then ensured by his/her mother Marie de Médicis, who controls the kingdom like regent. The majority of the king is proclaimed in 1614, but Marie declares that Louis is “too weak of body and spirit” to assume the duties of his load; she draws aside it from the Council and lets control her Favori S Concino Concini and Léonora Galigaï which monopolizes the highest loads of the State.

Traumatisé by the brutal death of a father whom he cherished, the small king did not have a merry childhood. First of all, it did not find any substitute with the paternal love near his mother Marie de Médicis, who regarded it as negligible quantity. Louis contained himself rather quickly on itself. In addition, the contempt of the Italian favorites in its connection increased its discomfort. While growing, Louis XIII|13 became a silent and ombrageux being.

There was however as a Louis XIII|13 , beside all its defects, of the instincts of king worthy of his father Henri {{Romanian|IV|4}} and it was indignant to see Concini, an unable foreigner according to him, to usurp the government of its State, while one relegated it in a corner of Louvre. He still suffered from another more secret and sharper wound. Marie de Médicis had too much let appear the preference which it tested for her second wire, Gaston, duke of Anjou, since duke of Orleans, which was, indeed, very gracious and pleasant child.

The regency of Marie de Médicis appeared catastrophic. The very bad management of the businesses of the queen involved serious disorders in the kingdom and created in the small king a very heavy feeling of bitterness. November 21st, 1615 with Bordeaux, Marie de Médicis Maria the king with Anne of Austria, infante of Spain. For Louis, it is a humiliation moreover, because, in accordance with the memory of his father, he sees as a Anne only one Spanish and consequently enemy. The king, who is only fourteen years old, did not consume his marriage. It had to be waited four years so that the king, pushed by the duke of Luynes, shared the bed of the queen.

Conflicts of the reign

It is by a takeover by force, on April 24th, 1617, that Louis XIII|13 reach the capacity by ordering the assassination of the favorite of his/her mother, Concino Concini. It exiles Marie de Médicis in Blois and takes finally its place of king. In Louis reality XIII|13 replaced Concini by its own favorite, Charles of Albert, duke of Luynes. It is true that very quickly Luynes accumulates the titles and fortunes. Its advance creates dissatisfactions, the more so as the favorite of the king is a very bad statesman.

In 1619, the queen-mother escapes from the Château of Blois and raises an army against his/her son who chooses to reconcile himself with it, at the time of the Treaty of Angouleme on April 30th, 1619, and yields to him the towns of Angers and Chinon, but prohibits to him to return to the council. In 1620, Marie de Médicis starts a Civil war which is concluded by its total defeat with the Bataille from the Bridge-of-C on April 7th, 1620, where the king orders personally. By fear to see his mother continuing plots, the king accepts his return to the court of France, and reconciles himself with it under the influence of Richelieu.

Hardly made peace, the king has gone to Pau in Navarre, of which he is the sovereign, to restore there the worship Catholique prohibited by the Protesting S for one half-century. Consequently, he intends to put an end to the political privileges whose the Protestants profit since the wars of religion. Of 1620 with 1628 (seat of La Rochelle), it follows a policy of re-establishment of the military authority of the State.

It conducts a first campaign against the Protestants in 1621 and allows the catch of Saint-Jean-in Angély, but it fails in front of Montauban mainly because of incompetence of Luynes. This one dies of the Scarlatine during the seat of Montheurt, whereas it had already fallen in disgrace. Béarn and Navarre are attached to the Kingdom. October 19th, 1622: Louis XIII sign the Edict of Montpellier confirming the Edict of Nantes. The duke of Rohan defends Montauban then Montpellier against the troops of Louis XIII. Finally an agreement is concluded between the two parts. It is the Treaty of Montpellier with the Protestants. Confirmation of the Edict of Nantes. Extension of the freedom of exercise of worship of the Protestants. Reduction in the number of their places of safety to two (La Rochelle and Montauban).

Louis XIII|13 , decided to take part more in the businesses of the State and to bind to only one minister, controls with Brûlart de Sillery and his/her son, the Marquis de Puisieux, as with Vieuville which were quickly disgraced for incompetence.

In 1624, Marie de Médicis manages to make enter the Cardinal of Richelieu to the council of the king, prelate which was the representative of the clergy to the General states of 1614 and Minister for the Concini government. The majority of the historians highlight the narrowness of the relations between Louis XIII|13 and Richelieu which wrote: “I subject this thought as all the others to your majesty” to mean with the king whom it would never try to control in his place.

The two men share the same design of the size of France and priorities which are essential in the political arena.

The political program of Richelieu is declined several manners: the lowering of large feudal, rationalization of the administrative system and the fight against the house of Habsbourg outside.

It was often said that Richelieu had fought the Protestants inside planned way. It is still an error: all the wars against the Huguenot S were started by the rising of one their chiefs (duke of Rohan, prince de Soubise). Even the seat of the La Rochelle was undoubtedly not wished until Rohan starts the hostilities.

The rendering of this last city, after a very long seat which is completed in 1628, is followed promulgation of the edict of Ale grace (June 28th, 1629), prohibiting the political assemblies and removing the Protestant places of safety, but maintaining freedom of worship in all the safe kingdom with Paris.

Louis XIII|13 must then face with the hostility of part of the royal family with regard to Richelieu. The Day of Dupes the (November 10th, 1630), during which the court believes the congédié cardinal, following a violent dispute between the king and the queen-mother, ends in the exile of the queen-mother with Moulins (the king revives it never again), the imprisonment of the chancellor Michel de Marillac and the execution of the brother of this one, the marshal of Marillac, for fallacious reasons.

Wanting to lower the pride of large kingdom, the king is inflexible on several occasions during the execution of the count de Montmorency-Bouteville to have violated the prohibition of the duel S and during the execution of the duke of Montmorency for revolt. The legend which makes of Louis XIII|13 a marionette subjected to Richelieu originates in the refusal of many contemporaries to give to the king the credit many executions which took place under its reign.

Louis XIII|13 must subdue several revolts organized by Gaston of Orleans and make lock up many his/her half-brothers like the duke of Vendôme. Conscious of the dilemmas which agitate the king, Pierre Corneille dedicates to him several counterparts of the Cid.

It is to have the children of the nobility too often rebellious brought together not far from Paris that Louis XIII|13 create in 1638 the Collège of Juilly by letters patent. He hoped to learn with these children the love from their King in a place where he could often visit them.

The attention of the king, starting from 1631, is obnubilated by the Guerre Thirty Year old. Since the death of his/her father, the war against Spain was each time deferred. The rectification of France by Richelieu brings the increase in the Franco-Spanish tensions. During several years, the two countries are satisfied with a cold war (passage of the step of Suse and War of succession of Mantoue). The year 1635 mark a true turning: France declares the open war in Spain. From now on, until the end of the reign, the king is engaged in a terrible war during which it orders several times personally (seat of Corbie). After a few difficult years, the French Army comes little by little to end from the Spanish army.

Work political

Really concerned king of the wellbeing of its people, Louis XIII|13 is at the origin of the edict which makes obligation with the bishops to grant a remuneration the officers of the worship. It also helps Saint Vincent of Paul to found a religious congregation of which the goal is to come to assistance of poorest, it completes the construction of the New Pont, makes dig the Canal of Briare and creates the first office of census of the unemployed and invalids.

It also allows the return of the school of the Jésuite S of Clermont Paris and opens this one with wire middle-class.

It is at the origin of the creation of the body of the Intendants who replace the baillifs and seneshals in the administration of the territory, and it is also under its reign that the first Gold louis is struck.

The difficulties which it encounters in 1638, as its very pious temperament lead it to place France under the protection of the Virgin Mary. It also writes, with its confessor, the father Nicolas Caussin, a book of prayers.

On the territorial level, France increases considerably under its reign. The Béarn and the Navarre are attached to the crown while the Protesting S cease forming a “  State in État  ”. The Catalogne revolts some against Spain is annexed in France, just as the whole of the Savoy and the Piedmont, as well as the town of Casale Monferrat in Lombardy. Perpignan and the Roussillon is also annexed in France. In north, most of the Hainaut is conquered with the catch of Arras. In the east, the Lorraine is completely occupied by the French troops. Lastly, the king subsidizes forwardings of Champlain to the Canada and supports the development of the News-France. He writes thereafter military articles for the Gazette of Théophraste Renaudot.

Louis XIII|13 is not a king Mécène, it subsidizes especially charity works and religious buildings. The only statue with its effigy was molten with the Révolution. It protected however the painter Georges of the Tower and promulgated several edicts in favor of the theater companies.

Its relation with Richelieu is rather complex and undoubtedly evolved with time to a real affection. He is the author of this praise on the cardinal: “The cardinal of Richelieu is the largest servant whom France had”. With died on the cardinal, the king decides to reconcile himself with some of the former conspirators like his half-brother, César de Vendôme and his sons, the Duc of Mercœur and the Duc of Beaufort, but it does not name Prime Minister again and continuous to make the policy of the Cardinal. It makes enter to the Council of State one of his collaborator close relations, the Cardinal Mazarin who quickly replaced Richelieu near the King. The proof is that, a few months later, when the Secretary of State to the war, Sublet de Noyers resigns, the king names to replace it one of protected from Mazarin, Michel Tellier.

Ambiguous personality

Louis XIII|13 is a king-soldier like his father. Since always, it is impassioned by the horses and the weapons. Excel riding, it is frequently on the battle fields, where it shows a great courage. In times of peace, the Chasse is its favorite pastime. It does not fear to sleep on straw, when its rides take it along far from the city.

Louis XIII|13 is also a very pious man, deeply Catholique. If it is tolerant towards the Protesting S, it is by respect of the work of reconciliation achieved by his/her father. If not, Marie de Médicis took care that his/her son received a severe catholic education. Louis XIII|13 horror of the sin has. It is for him an obsession. The king feels reluctant with the superfluities of the life. Its rejection of vanities involved at his place a great mistrust of the courtiers and, especially, women whom he regards as frivolous and vicious.

Louis XIII|13 a certain number of favorites (in the order had: the duke of Luynes, the marquis de Toiras, Baradat, the duke of Saint-Simon and marquis of Five-March). The single source in this respect is Gédéon Tallemant of Réaux, chronicler very hostile with Richelieu. Some historians examined the thesis of the possible bisexuality of Louis XIII|13 but none brought tangible proofs making it possible to corroborate this thesis, the accounts of Tallemant of Réaux being essentially made up of testimonys of second, even of third hand, that whose author does not hide.

In addition, one knows of the king two female connections, both platonic: one with Marie de Hautefort, future duchess of Halluin, the other with Louise of Fayette, with which he wanted to withdraw himself with Versailles.

Succession of the king

The major concern for Louis XIII|13 was, during its reign, the very long absence of a male heir. Of a health poor and shaken by violent diseases, the king missed on several occasions dying. The fact that the king can suddenly die without heir maintained in the applicants with the throne great hopes (Gaston of Orleans, the count de Soissons, the Count de Moret…). The very difficult relation which the king with the queen maintained increased the hopes of these princes, who always mingled with plots, hoped well that the king never has heirs.

Majority of the historians and the novelists who support the thesis of nona consumption of the marriage of Louis XIII|13 and Anne of Austria before the birth of {{Romanian|Louis XIV|14}} forget that the queen made three miscarriages, of which one was accidental.

In 1626, the queen, pushed by the Duchess of Chevreuse, takes part in the plot of the count de Chalais, having for goal to assassinate the king. Starting from this date, the couple lives separate. Starting from the beginning of the implication of France in the War Thirty Year old, Anne of Austria tries to secretly inform Spain about the military and political provisions French (although it is kept away of all the decisions of the King). Treason is discovered and one speaks one moment about divorce and Répudiation, but the business is finally choked by the king himself which is too pious to think of it seriously.

At the same time, the king is in a delicate position with the international level, since it is found in conflict with two catholic kings: Ferdinand {{Romanian|III|3}} of the Holy roman Empire and Philippe {{Romanian|IV|4}} of Spain and combined of the Protestant Gustave {{Romanian|II|2}} Adolphe of Sweden.

In this difficult context, the dolphin, future Louis {{Romanian|XIV|14}}, born in 1638 after 23 years of marriage, whereas the king and the queen are 36 years old, is called “the child of the miracle”. The memorialist S differ on the attitude from the king with regard to his heir: Tallemant of Réaux says to us that the king considered his son of a cold eye, then was withdrawn. All the other memorialists, whose ambassador of Venice Contarini which was present, say to us that the king fell to knees in front of his son and embraced it.

Louis XIII|13 and Anne of Austria had even in 1640 a second wire, Philippe, future Duc of Orleans. However, right before dying, Louis XIII|13 write a will aiming at limiting the prerogatives of its wife whose law imposes that it is named Régente with his death. Anne of Austria did not hold account of it and made break this will as soon as it was informed of it.

After six weeks terrible Colic S and vomiting, Louis XIII|13 dies on May 14th, 1643 (he dies one May 14th like its father Henri IV), at 42 years, of an evil now identified like the Maladie of Crohn. It is however probable that this chronic disease did nothing but weaken it and that the death-blow is given to him by its doctor, Bouvard, who leaves the assessment of thirty-four bleedings, thousand two hundred rectal injections and two hundred and fifty purgings practiced on the king in the two last years of its life.

Its body is carried to the Basilique Saint-Denis of Saint-Denis without any ceremony, according to its own desire: indeed, he did not want to overpower his people by an excessive and useless expenditure.

Cinema

This king appears in many films, primarily thanks to the various adaptations of the novel of Alexandre Dumas, the Three Musketeers who was adapted about thirty times. The king often seems a sad and unfortunate character there. But, finally, the reign of Louis XIII|13 give to the cinema of cape and sword, in the Fifties and Sixties, its hours of glory.

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