Louis XIII: Biography

As the French themselves consider, in the novels of the sword and sword Alexander Dumas gave the most impartial portrait of King Louis XIII. This is weak, and weak-willed, and changeable, and cold, and cruel, and mean-spirited sovereign, in the shadow of the great Cardinal Richelieu. But in fact, this little-known ruler, if you look closely at him, can outshine the fame of his father, Henry IV, and the son of Louis XIV.

During the 33 years of his reign, the kingdom of France has changed a lot. There was a strengthening of power and administration, development of trade relations and the navy. Later, these fruits will be fully utilized by his son Louis XIV.

Dauphine (1601-1610)

Louis XIII is the son of Henry IV, King of France and Navarre, and Maria de 'Medici. He was born in 1601. This marriage was exclusively dynastic, designed to preserve the influence of France in Italy, combining Florence and France with an heir. It was also necessary to write off French debts from Florentine bankers. The young queen gave birth to six sons, of whom only two have reached adulthood - Louis XIII and his brother Gaston, Duke of Orleans. The child grows in the castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, along with the illegitimate children of Henry IV. He is brought up mainly by Albert de Luin. He instills in the child the love of hunting, walking in the fresh air, drawing and dancing, playing the musical instruments, the harpsichord and the lute. But he does not prepare the child for governing the state of Liuin. Father loves Louis and clearly distinguishes him from his children. Otherwise, the mother refers to him. She prefers Gaston. Maria de Medici thinks Louis is slow and not too beautiful. But Louis is not extinguished, despite his natural shyness, he firmly believes in his divine destiny. The father dies, killed by a fanatic, and the regent becomes the queen under the young king. At this time, Louis is only 8 years old. Mother, retreating from her husband's policy, seeks to get closer to Spain. Louis XIII from 1612 already engaged to Anna Austrian, daughter of the Spanish king.

Regency

The Queen can not fully administer the state in which there is a tense situation between Protestants and Catholics. In addition, her subjects, the representatives of the highest aristocratic families, hasten to intensify: Conde, Giza, Montmorency. The queen is actively influenced by her favorite, the Italian Konchini, Marshal d'Ancre. Greedy and greedy, it causes hatred in everyone who comes across it. In addition, feeling the power behind him, he tries in every way to humiliate the future king. Louis XIII, trying to put Konchini in place and protect his dignity, talks with his mother, but is subjected to new insults. Approximately from this time it begins to excruciate stomach pains, which in the future will only increase. However, despite the pain, in secret 15-year-old shy teenager is preparing a plot. The conspirators killed Conchini in the Louvre. Louis, clearly agreeing with the physical need to eliminate it, restrainedly said: "This time I am the king."

The result of the coup

These words attested to the strength of the character of Louis XIII, who boldly assumed responsibility for the fate of France at the age of 15. But the beginning of the rule is overshadowed by feudal distempers. Two opposing parties are created. The one that supports the young Louis, and the one that relies on his mother. From 1619 to 1620 years there was a "war" of mother and son. Cardinal Armand du Plessis Richelieu skillfully maneuvers between parties to bring peace to the kingdom. Louis first cautiously refers to the actions of the peacemaker, but shares his vision of royal power: to weaken the nobility and pacify the Protestants. Both had no doubts and stops when they considered something necessary. The joint work was rather harmonious and effective.

Personal life and Anna Austrian

Dynastic marriage took place in 1615. However, despite the fact that his wife is the first beauty not only of France, Ludovic is always surrounded by favorites, relations with which he can not be called platonic. King Louis XIII maintains a distant relationship with his wife. He is incredulous to the queen. And what most do not like the young king, so that in marriage there are no children. Since the king does not have an heir, he is surrounded by various conspiracies. Only after fifteen years the relations of the spouses will begin to improve. But over the years, Anne of Austria was credited with not one single favorite, including Buckingham. After 23 years of marriage, the long-awaited children appear. First the Dauphin of Louis, then Philip of Orleans. And while there are no children, Protestants go to open revolt in La Rochelle, which is slowly supported by French aristocrats and England, a longtime enemy of the Hundred Years War, which is still alive in the hearts of both the French and the British. The internal war against the Huguenots, supported by England, continues until 1628, until the citadel of La Rochelle capitulated. The peace treaty is accompanied by confirmation of freedom of religion. By this time, the war had exhausted the country, the treasury was empty.

Plots

It would seem that the resistance of the nobility is broken, but aristocrats continue to act against the firm policy of the king and cardinal. The Duchess of Chevreuse dreams of seeing her brother as heir to the throne. The brother of the king, Gaston of Orleans, also participates in the plots. At this time, relations between spouses worsen. The king is informed that his military secrets are becoming known at the Spanish court. In his own home, King Louis XIII saw the enemy. Ludovik XIII and Anna of Austria always maintained tension and mistrust in the relationship. His wife's wings were searched at the direction of the king. Anna's inability to give birth to a child (several miscarriages) further alienated the couple. But Richelieu, for the good of France, is making every effort to reconcile husband and wife.

The birth of the heir

This long-awaited event took place in 1638. But the tension of the situation at the court and in the state does not fall. For 12 years there have been reforms designed to strengthen the royal authority, to streamline administration, to destroy feudal vestiges in the form of fights, to develop the navy. In this field the king hand in hand with the cardinal. They complement each other. Wherever the king seeks to take a sharp step, the cardinal suggests caution and flexibility. They respect each other, but they keep at a distance. Such a policy makes France's positions on the world stage more solid. The Thirty Years' Cold War ends in Italy, but in 1635 a war broke out between France and Spain. The troops of the Spaniards approach Paris. The king personally led the army, and the enemy was thrown back. The war is going hard. And the health of the king meanwhile is getting worse. Neither the king nor the cardinal saw the end of the war. In 1642, Armand du Plessis dies, but leaves an heir - Cardinal Mazarin. Louis XIII died of the disease a year later, in 1643, leaving the heir at the age of four. Absolute monarchy was created by Louis XIII, and Louis XIV will always be concerned about the growth of her prestige. In the meantime, for many years, his mother, Anne of Austria, who has become regent, receives full power.

Results of the reign

And the rural areas, and cities, and trade, and production activities suffered from the wars. But all the same, by 1643 France has managed to become a major European force, which can not be ignored. This was created by Louis XIII. Biography tells us that it was thanks to him that the kingdom was freed from the ambitions of the Habsburgs, both Austrian and Spanish. Until then, the territory of the kingdom was not so vast. A strong monarchical state arose. The monarchy became absolute.

By itself, Louis was a hypochondriac, a sick and unhappy man, but the people mourned for him and gave him the nickname Just.