Louis VII of France Biography

(King of France (1137 - 1180))

Born: 1120

Born In: Paris, France

Louis VII, also known as Louis the Younger (Louis Le Jeune in French), was the king of France from 1137 to 1180. He is remembered for his long conflict with Henry II of England. He was close to his advisor, Abbot Suger. He had annulled his marriage with Eleanor of Aquitaine, after accusing her of questionable conduct. Louis VII is remembered for his contribution to the ‘Second Crusade,’ which eventually ended in a failed attempt to conquer Damascus. However, the crusade was the first time when French and German forces had joined hands for a common cause. He was succeeded by his only son, Philip II, after his death in 1180.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Louis VII, the Younger, the Young

Died At Age: 60

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Adèle of Champagne (m. 1160), Constance of Castile (m. 1154), Eleanor of Aquitaine (m. 1137 - annulled.1152)

father: Louis VI of France

mother: Adelaide of Maurienne

children: Agnes of France - Byzantine Empress, Alix of France, Alys of France - Countess of Vexin, Margaret of France - Queen of England and Hungary, Marie of France - Countess of Champagne, Philip II of France

Born Country: France

Emperors & Kings French Men

Died on: September 18, 1180

place of death: Saint-Pont, France

City: Paris

  • 1

    What were some key events during Louis VII's reign?

    Some key events during Louis VII's reign include the Second Crusade, his annulment of his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his involvement in the wars against the Plantagenets.
  • 2

    How did Louis VII impact the development of France?

    Louis VII's reign saw the consolidation of royal power in France, the strengthening of the monarchy's authority over the nobility, and the expansion of French territories through military campaigns.
  • 3

    What was Louis VII's relationship with the Church like?

    Louis VII had a complex relationship with the Church, as he clashed with the papacy over issues of authority and power, but also sought to strengthen the Church's influence in France.
  • 4

    How did Louis VII's policies affect the economy of France?

    Louis VII's policies, including his support for urban development and trade, contributed to the growth of the French economy during his reign.
  • 5

    What was Louis VII's legacy in terms of cultural and intellectual developments?

    Louis VII's patronage of the arts and promotion of learning contributed to the cultural and intellectual flourishing of France during the 12th century.
Childhood & Early Life
Louis VII was born in Paris in 1120. He was the second son of Louis VI of France and Adelaide of Maurienne. Their eldest son had died in childhood.
He received ecclesiastical education early in life and thus became quite pious. However, following the accidental death of his older brother, Philip, in 1131, he came next in the line of succession of France.
In October 1131, Louis VI had him crowned (as a junior king) by Pope Innocent II at the ‘Reims Cathedral.’ He spent a lot of his early days in Saint-Denis, where he became friends with the Abbot Suger, his father’s advisor.
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Louis VII as a King
In 1137, following his father’s death, Louis VII became the sole ruler of his kingdom. He got married to Eleanor, daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, the same year. Thus, the Capetian lands were extended to the Pyrenees.
Louis followed his father’s pacification strategy by building a strong administrative government that relied on trustworthy officials, and not by annexing new kingdoms. He lacked quality political judgment. However, with the help of his advisor, Suger, Abbot of St-Denis, he became an efficient administrator.
From 1141 to 1143, he was part of an unsuccessful conflict with Count Thibaut of Champagne and the papacy. However, following this, he maintained good relations with the popes.
Soon after Edessa fell in 1144, Pope Eugenius III suggested that the king declare a new crusade, also known as the Second Crusade. Louis VII then invited Bernard of Clairvaux to begin the crusade. Louis was also supported by Conrad III of Germany. This was the first time the French and the Germans had decided to join forces for a common agenda.
In June 1147, King Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine joined the crusade. They declared Abbot Suger the regent of France.
On June 24, 1148, Louis VII decided to attack Damascus, along with King Baldwin III of Jerusalem and King Conrad III of Germany. Their forces gathered in Acre. However, they were defeated badly by the Muslim forces and were forced to retreat by July 28. Thus, the Second Crusade failed miserably and Damascus was taken over by Nur ad-Din Zangi.
Louis VII had supported Alexander III, against Frederick Barbarossa. Alexander III later took refuge in France. He gifted Louis VII the “golden rose” in exchange for this generosity.
Louis VII soon grew insecure due to the threat from Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou (and of Normandy), and Geoffrey’s son, Henry II.
As Louis VII was unhappy with Henry II's position as the Duke of Normandy, he declared war on him in 1151. The conflict was to be arbitrated in Paris. The matter was ultimately resolved when Henry did homage to Louis VII for Normandy and gave away the territory of Vexin to France.
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Soon, Louis accused his wife, Eleanor, of misconduct and adultery. Following this, Eleanor and Louis VII got divorced (March 1152). Soon, Eleanor got married to Henry II. Henry II then took over Aquitaine. However, this helped the Capetian kingdom, as Aquitaine brought Louis VII negligible revenue.
In 1154, Henry II ascended to the English throne, as King Henry II of England and the ruler of Anjou and Normandy.
In 1158, Henry II went to France, with a marriage alliance between his son, Henry, and Louis VII’s daughter, Margaret (by his second wife, Constance).
Louis VII agreed, and the betrothal took place in November 1160. Back then, Henry was only 3 years old, while Margaret was an infant who was less than a year old.
However, on June 24 that year, Henry II decided to claim Toulouse as his own territory, in the name of Eleanor, his wife. He gathered his army at Poitiers and began his march. Louis VII was unhappy with Henry's aggressive attitude and thus marched with his own army to Toulouse, to stop the English king from entering the city. Henry refrained from attacking the city, as he was the vassal of Louis VII.
In October that year, Henry II marched to the north, to Normandy, where Louis VII’s brothers had started attacking the border. Henry II launched his attack on several castles and cut Louis VII off from Paris. Louis VII then signed a peace treaty in December and agreed that it would be valid till the festival of Whitsun in 1160.
In October 1160, Henry II decided to return all that he had gained from Louis VII and thus did homage to him. The same month, Louis married for the third time. The following month, Henry II accepted the Vexin castles as dowry, at the betrothal ceremony of Henry the Young King and Margaret.
Louis then brought peace between France and England when he agreed to the marriage of Prince Richard and his other daughter, Alys (or Alice), in 1169.
Between 1164 and 1170, Henry II and Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, had major conflicts. In January 1169, Henry II, Louis VII, and Becket met at Montmirail for a peaceful resolution. Becket agreed with Henry II, except on one point. Their negotiations failed. They held another meeting at St. Leger-en-Yvelines. Soon, Henry received a papal ultimatum.
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In August 1174, the Siege of Rouen took place. Louis VII, Henry the Young King, and Philip the count of Flanders had stationed in front of Rouen since July. The city prevented an attack till the arrival of Henry II in August. Louis VII and his allies were afraid that Henry II would invade France. Thus, they abandoned the siege. By the end of that year, Henry II signed a peace agreement with Louis VII and his own three sons who had rebelled against him.
Louis VII then crowned his eldest son, Philip, at the ‘Rheims Cathedral’ in November 1179, according to Capetian tradition. Philip took to the throne as the joint king of France, Philip II, or Philip Augustus. He then took over as the sole ruler of his kingdom after the death of Louis VII in 1180.
Family & Personal Life
Louis VII married Eleanor of Aquitaine on July 25, 1137. The marriage was arranged by his father who wished to establish peace between France and Aquitaine. It also brought Louis VII the riches inherited by Eleanor, after the death of her father, Duke William X of Aquitaine.
Eleanor was extremely flirtatious in nature. Louis VII suspected her of being involved with her uncle, Raymond of Poitiers, during the crusade (March 1148). Louis VII often insisted that Eleanor accompany him in his campaigns.
In 1149, Louis VII wished to annul the marriage. Suger and others advised him not to. After Suger’s death, Louis annulled the marriage on March 21, 1152. The reason cited, however, was consanguinity, meaning they shared a common ancestor. Eleanor then married Henry, the Count of Anjou (the future Henry II), merely 2 months later.
Louis VII married Constance of Castile, who was the daughter of Alfonso VIII, King of Castile, in 1154. After her death in 1160, he married Adela (or Adele) of Champagne. Adela was the daughter of Theobald, Count of Champagne.
Louis VII had two daughters with Eleanor: Marie and Alix. He had two more daughters, with Constance: Margaret and Alys. With Adela, he had a son, Philip, and a daughter, Agnes. Philip later ascended to the throne as King Philip II, or Philip Augustus.
Louis VII died in Paris, France, on September 18, 1180. He was interred at the ‘Barbeau Abbey,’ which was founded by him earlier. His remains now lie at the ‘Basilica of Saint-Denis,’ after being shifted in 1817.
In Literature
Jean Anouilh's play ‘Becket’ featured Louis VII as a character. ‘Academy Award’-nominated actor John Gielgud played him in the 1964 film version of the play.
In 1978, Charles Kay portrayed him in the ‘BBC TV’ drama series ‘The Devil's Crown.’ He was a character in the novels ‘When Christ and His Saints Slept’ and ‘Devil's Brood,’ both by author Sharon Kay Penman.
The beginning of Norah Lofts's biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine showcases Louis VII from Eleanor's perspective. He also appears as a main character in Elizabeth Chadwick's 2013 novel ‘The Summer Queen,’ which is part of her ‘Eleanor of Aquitaine Series.’
Facts About Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France was known for his deep devotion to religion and played a key role in promoting the construction of several important religious buildings during his reign.
He had a strong interest in the arts and supported the development of music and literature in his kingdom, fostering a cultural renaissance during his time as king.
Louis VII was known for his strategic military tactics and successfully led several campaigns during the Crusades, earning him respect as a skilled military leader.
He was an early advocate for the rights of women and supported the establishment of women's convents and the education of noblewomen, demonstrating a progressive attitude towards gender equality.
Louis VII was a patron of the troubadours and troubadour poetry, contributing to the flourishing of courtly love literature in medieval France.

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