Louis XI
King of France · 1461-1483 · born on 3 July 1423, died on 30 August 1483
Nicknamed “the universal spider” for his patient and crafty diplomacy, Louis XI spent his reign bringing the great feudal lords under royal authority, breaking with his father Charles VII.
He triumphed over his great rival Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, killed at Nancy in 1477: Burgundy, Picardy, then Provence (1481), Maine and Anjou came back to the royal domain. The kingdom, markedly enlarged, was reunified.
Under his reign, the king encouraged towns, trade and industry, notably silk in Lyon and printing in Paris. The sovereign, cunning but effective, left a France that was larger, pacified and better administered.
In the tree of power
- Era: Valois
- Predecessor: Charles VII le Victorieux (1422-1461)
- Successor: Charles VIII (1483-1498)