Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France
1775
Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France, written by Richard Girard de Bury and first published in 1775, is a historical account of Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis. The book explores his life, reign, and significant contributions to France, emphasizing themes of faith, governance, and the influence of his mother, Blanche de Castille, during his minority. It details the political landscape of 13th-century France, including the challenges Louis faced from discontented vassals and the complexities of court intrigue that shaped his rule.
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The King of France, known for his piety, unwavering sense of justice, and leadership during two crusades, who is the central figure of the biography.
Queen mother and regent of France, known for her exceptional prudence, firmness, and political skill in governing the kingdom during Louis's minority and absence.
Queen of France and wife of Louis IX, who accompanied him on his first crusade and was deeply devoted to him, though sometimes at odds with her mother-in-law.
A powerful and often rebellious vassal, initially suspected of poisoning Louis VIII, who later became King of Navarre and joined crusades.
About Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- The book opens with the death of Louis VIII, father of Saint Louis, who, on his deathbed, refused a sinful remedy to prolong his life and named his wife, Blanche de Castille, regent for their young son Louis. Blanche, despite facing immediate challenges from rebellious vassals, quickly arranged Louis's coronation.
- 2
- This section describes Blanche de Castille's character as a prudent, firm, and politically astute regent. She skillfully managed the state, rewarding loyal vassals like the Count of Boulogne and Ferrand of Flanders, and preparing to confront rebellious elements.
- 3
- Blanche de Castille meticulously oversaw Louis's education, instilling in him deep piety and a strong moral compass. She emphasized the knowledge of God and virtue, famously telling him she would rather see him dead than commit a mortal sin. Louis also learned history, Latin, and the art of governance, with Philippe-Auguste as a model.
Key Themes
- Piety and Faith
- Louis IX's deep personal piety and unwavering faith are central to his character and reign. He consistently prioritizes God's will, seeks divine guidance, and views his actions, including crusades and acts of justice, through a religious lens, often inspiring or challenging others with his devotion.
- Justice and Law
- A defining characteristic of Louis IX's reign is his relentless pursuit of justice, both for his subjects and in international relations. He reforms the legal system, punishes powerful nobles equally with commoners, and often sacrifices personal gain or political expediency for what he perceives as righteous judgment, as seen in the Coucy affair and his arbitration for England.
- Kingship and Governance
- The book explores the ideals of good governance through Louis IX's example, emphasizing a king's duty to his people, the importance of wise counsel, and the balance between royal authority and the rights of vassals. His mother, Blanche, also exemplifies strong and prudent regency, laying the groundwork for his effective rule.
Characters
- Louis IX (Saint Louis)(protagonist)
- The King of France, known for his piety, unwavering sense of justice, and leadership during two crusades, who is the central figure of the biography.
- Blanche de Castille(supporting)
- Queen mother and regent of France, known for her exceptional prudence, firmness, and political skill in governing the kingdom during Louis's minority and absence.
- Marguerite de Provence(supporting)
- Queen of France and wife of Louis IX, who accompanied him on his first crusade and was deeply devoted to him, though sometimes at odds with her mother-in-law.
- Thibaud IV (King of Navarre, Count of Champagne)(antagonist)
- A powerful and often rebellious vassal, initially suspected of poisoning Louis VIII, who later became King of Navarre and joined crusades.
- Henri III (King of England)(antagonist)
- King of England and brother-in-law of Louis IX, who repeatedly sought to reclaim lost French territories and supported rebellious French vassals.
- Pierre de Dreux (Mauclerc, Count of Brittany)(antagonist)
- A 'malicious and wicked' count who was a persistent leader of rebellious vassals against the French crown, later forced to submit.
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<a href="https://lex-books.com/book/histoire-de-st-louis-roi-de-france-7fae18c5-90de-480a-a2b7-52d68a898059"><img src="https://lex-books.com/badges/read-on-lex.svg" alt="Read Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France by Richard Girard de Bury free on Lex" width="160" height="40"></a>[](https://lex-books.com/book/histoire-de-st-louis-roi-de-france-7fae18c5-90de-480a-a2b7-52d68a898059)[url=https://lex-books.com/book/histoire-de-st-louis-roi-de-france-7fae18c5-90de-480a-a2b7-52d68a898059][img]https://lex-books.com/badges/read-on-lex.svg[/img][/url]Read Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France by Richard Girard de Bury free on Lex: https://lex-books.com/book/histoire-de-st-louis-roi-de-france-7fae18c5-90de-480a-a2b7-52d68a898059Cite this book
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Bury, Richard Girard de. Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France. Lex, lex-books.com/book/histoire-de-st-louis-roi-de-france-7fae18c5-90de-480a-a2b7-52d68a898059.Bury, R. G. D. (1775). Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France. Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/histoire-de-st-louis-roi-de-france-7fae18c5-90de-480a-a2b7-52d68a898059Bury, Richard Girard de. Histoire De St. Louis, Roi De France. Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/histoire-de-st-louis-roi-de-france-7fae18c5-90de-480a-a2b7-52d68a898059.
