Louis VIII le Lion

King of France · 1223-1226 · born on 5 September 1187, died on 8 November 1226

Son of Philip Augustus, Louis VIII reigned for a short time (1223-1226), but his reign was decisive: he led the Albigensian Crusade against the heretics of the South, taking Avignon in 1226.

In 1224 he had conquered Poitou and Saintonge from the Plantagenets, completing his father’s work. He died on the way back from the South, at Montpensier, in 1226, leaving the throne to his twelve-year-old son Louis IX; his wife Blanche of Castile ensured the regency.

Despite its brevity, his campaign began the integration of Languedoc into the Capetian sphere, continued by his successors. Nicknamed “the Lion”, he opened the way to the “century of Saint Louis”.

In the tree of power

Further reading