Louis VII (years of life 1120-1180) ruled in France for forty-three years. In traditional history, he was considered a weak monarch, but this can be argued. Yes, he was not the one who defeated the Germans and was fond of carnal pleasures, but not everything is so simple. He deserves to be called a worthy representative of the Capet.
Parents
Louis VII (Capetian dynasty) was the son of the one who strengthened the power of the king in France. His father's nickname is Fat. He is considered one of the brightest representatives of the Capetians. Mother's name was Adelaide of Savoy. She was the daughter of Count Humbert.
Destined for the spiritual life
Louis VII, whose biography is being considered, was the second son of the king. The father began preparations for a peaceful transfer of power a few years before his death. In 1129, his eldest son Philip, who at that time was thirteen years old, was crowned. It was he who would have received the crown after the death of Louis Tolstoy. But at fifteen, a young mancrashed to death after falling from a horse.
The father took his youngest son from the monastery, who became Louis VII. The boy was crowned twelve days after Philip's death. The anointing was done by the Pope. So the son, who was being prepared for a spiritual career, became the co-ruler of the French king.
Board
Louis VII the Young ruled with his father until his death in 1137. Nobody challenged his right to the throne. The kingdom was well protected from the attacks of the barons. Under the new ruler, the same advisers remained. They were headed by Abbot Suger from Saint-Denis.
During the years of his reign, he held a number of events:
- suppressed the uprising in Poitiers;
- made a trip to Toulouse, but without much results;
- interfered in the election of church hierarchs.
The crusade brought him the greatest fame. However, it can hardly be called successful.
Second Crusade
In Western Europe, talk began about the next crusade. The impetus for this was the fall of Edessa in 1144. Louis VII, King of France, announced that he was ready to accept the cross. He decided to personally lead the march to the Holy Land. Before that, none of the kings personally participated in such an event.
He accepted the Cross in 1146. In the absence of the monarch, the kingdom was to be ruled by Dionysius of Paris, who was associated with Saint-Denis, and therefore with Suger. The king moved to the east in 1147, along with a hugearmy.
According to the conviction of the German emperor Conrad, who also accepted the cross, the king of France moved to Constantinople through the Balkans. In the capital of Byzantium, he signed an agreement with Manuel.
The crusaders were engaged in robbery, which prompted the Greeks to start a rumor that the Germans had already defeated all the Muslims. The French headed towards Conrad's army, which was actually being defeated by the Muslims.
The troops united and moved south through the western territories of Asia Minor. On the way, they were constantly attacked by light Muslim cavalry. The King of France did not prepare for such an exhausting war; he brought with him a retinue and magnificent outfits. Even his wife traveled with him. In 1148, the rulers with their depleted troops reached Ephesus. Conrad went to Constantinople, and his ally reached Antalya. From there, on Byzantine ships, he crossed to Antioch.
In the summer of that year, he met with Conrad and the King of Jerusalem. The Muslims destroyed Edessa, so the Crusaders decided to march on Damascus. They failed to take it. Failure forced Conrad to return to his homeland. Louis visited Jerusalem and returned to France in 1149.
Marriage to Eleanor
In 1137, the father of Louis VII managed to arrange a marriage between his son and Eleanor, the future owner of Aquitaine. In July of the same year, a wedding took place in Bordeaux.
The couple lived together for fifteen years. There was a relationship gap between them. Louis was piousand severe character, and his wife was a lively and energetic nature. It is believed that she constantly cheated on her husband. Their union brought only two daughters to the kingdom. The absence of a male heir put the fate of the dynasty in jeopardy.
In 1151, Suger dies. It was he who opposed divorce. The king's hands were untied and he annulled the marriage in 1152. He paid for his freedom with Aquitaine and Poitiers, who returned to Eleanor.
In 1154, these lands became part of England, as the former wife of a Capetian representative became the wife of Henry Plantagenet.
Relationship with Heinrich Plantagenet
Henry was a vassal of Louis VII, but this connection was formal. After receiving the French possessions from a profitable marriage alliance, the King of England took the oath to the Capet. In 1158, the monarchs even agreed to marry their children.
In 1159, the British laid siege to Toulouse. The Capetians did not want to strengthen the Plantogenets, so they came to the aid of the besieged. When Henry saw the ruler of France on the ramparts, he retreated.
Heinrich and Eleanor had five children. In the seventies of the 12th century, they began to disagree with their father about the government of the country. The French monarch took advantage of them. He received his son-in-law, the eldest son of Plantagenet. At the same time, an open war began between the Capetians and the English king. It was not only Henry the Young who opposed his father, but also Richard. Supported by the French and the Scots. The King of England managed to defeat the King of Scotland by going to war with Richard.
Under pressure from the Pope eventsended in 1177 with the signing of peace in Paris.
The long-awaited heir
After his divorce from Eleanor, Louis VII married Constance of Castile, but she, like her first wife, was able to give him two daughters. She died while giving birth to her second child.
A month after the incident, the king married Adele Champagne. In 1165, she gave birth to their first child, who was named Philip. The second child was Agnes.
When his son was fourteen years old, the king, at the request of church hierarchs, decided to declare him his co-ruler. But before the coronation, Philip got lost in the forest. He was found on the third day in serious condition. The father decided to beg for he alth to the heir at the grave of Thomas Becket. As a result of the pilgrimage, he was paralyzed. Philip was crowned, and the following year his father died. Louis died on September 10, 1180.
He gave the country a beautiful monarch, who was the first to use the title "King of France". He is known for participating in the crusade with Richard the Lionheart, defeating the Germans, building round fortress towers that have survived to this day.
Some historians specifically belittled the achievements of Louis the Young in order to elevate Philip Augustus against his background. However, it was his father who left him fortified lands for the further development of the kingdom. A similar analogy can be drawn with the rule of Philip and his son Alexander the Great in ancient times. Everyone praises the military achievements of Alexander, but does not mention thatreformed the army by his father.
