Valois Family History & Genealogy

Louis XI., King of France, house of Valois

It is the year 1423, July 3rd, we are in Bourge, large palace of archbishop, here sounds the cry of the newborn baby, first child of king of France Charles VII. and his wife Mary of Anjou was born. In age of two was taken from Berry to Touraine and he began to live on castle Loches. This castle was similar to fortress. He lived almost without his parents and lived here amost eight years. Here visited him Jean d’Arc, she had great deal on coronation of his father and casting out Englishmen from France and she said prophesy that in twenty years dauphine Charles VII. will rest near his ancestors and after him will ascend his oldest son, now six years old and will rule with glory and honour and with greatest royal power, which did not have any French king from times of Charles Magnus.“

Then he lived on castle Amboise, where lived also his mother Mary of Anjoy and other her children. In age of 12 his father decided that he will show Louis to the crowds and to show him duties of ruler. So he should spend two years in town Tours. His education made friend of his father clever Jean Majoris. He taught him that he has to think less on the award from his work than on Kingdom of God and his justice. He had to have characters as honesty, adherence, ability to sacrifice himself and abnegation. He studied and had to know history of his church and lifes of Saints. He taught him that in front of God are all people equal and shall differ from others by greatness of his work, which they did and merits which they gained. Louis was interested in history. He felt that repeats same situations and instabilities and that knowledge of history if very necessary and prosperous for ruler. He had to know history from love and a lot comming to this conclusions to which comes each good histocian. The foremost theologian of France John Gerson wrote a manual of instructions for this first tutor, Jean Majoris, a canon of Reims. Bernard of Armagnac was his second tutor, was known by his piety and humility.

After time he did not understand with his father and people went against his father and were not satisfied. He lead him to competition. When he was married to Margaret, daughter of James I of Scotland, a princess of about his own age, but sickly and romantic, and in every way his opposite, he was only circa 13 years old. It was in year 1436. Three years after this unhappy marriage Louis entered upon his stormy political career. Sent by his father in 1439 to direct the defense of Languedoc against the English, and to put down the brigandage in Poitou, he was induced by the rebellious nobles to betray his trust and place himself at the head of the Praguerie. 1440 rebelled powerful feudaries against king and he added to them. He became rebel. There was greater deep between them and also to it his father has lover Agnesa Sorel. Louis hated her. Father casted out his naughty son from royal court and he commanded him to live in province Dauphine. After time he decided to punish him, but when Louis heard that there goes army, he sat on horse and abandoned it and went to Flanders, to his uncle Philip Good, duke of Burgundy and asked him for azyl and he acceped him. He gave him the rent and placed him to the land Genappe. King Charles thought his son is able to kill him, but he never discredited his law to ascend on his throne. He died July 22, 1461 on castle Mehun-sur-Yvre and it said that from hunger. That he was afraid of that his son will poison him and so did not eat, but he had illness and when his servants and doctor enforced him to eat, he died. He was burried August 8, in Saint-Denis, in accordance of strict customs of France, ascending of Louis was claimed over his coffin. The authorities of royal palace broke their decorated sticks, symbols of their functions and threw them into the tomb, then the adminstrator of the palace called: „ Pray for the soul of the most excellent, the most powerful and the most victorious prince Charles, seventh of this name! God, give happy life to Louis, king of France, our sovereign lord! Vivat roi Louis!“ By these ceremonial way made one government to other. After puting his body to burrial to Saint-Denis’ground, began preparations for coronation and anointing in Reims. At Saturday, August 15, 1461 was Louiscrosned. He departed from Genappe July 17 and lived in Avesnes. In the evening of coronation came with Philip Good to the Saint-Thierrzy-les-Reims, where accepted symbolical kezs from coronation town. He entered France in day he became king. He had Torches were lightining him on way and he was sitting on horse covered with gold clothe weared in red-white wearings. He stayed for a while in the Temple of the Virgin Mary and then went to the palace of archbishop and at midnight he again returned to the Cathedral to listen morning worhip and accepted holy communion. In cathedral prepared two chairs one for king and one for queen and archbishop of Reims invited them. His name was Jean Jouvenel des Ursins. Louis XI. Promised and with right hand layed on opened books of Gospels bind himself to ensure peace in church, keep and respect untouchable laws and privileges of the crown, defend to rapines and put off misbelievers decovered by the church, then played Te Deum.During it as king prayed kneeing, on altar they gave corocnation wearing of the ruler and regalia. On first place was sword, symbol of army power, which belonged to caesar Charles Magnus, then gold ring and gold sceptre and hand from ivory with fingers up as symbol of justice, called hand of justice, then gold spurs and royal lily crown. These brought abbot from Saint-Remy and also sainte ampoule with oil, sent just from heaven used to anoint the ruler which brought abbot on horse with barrons with upright spears. With help of royal princes he turn off wearings and had only shirt tunic from red silk and shirt. He weared trousers till knees and Philip Good, doyen of French pairs gave him gold spurs and Jean Jouvenel des Ursins gave him belt with great sword. King prayed and bishop of Laon lifted up the ampoule and gave to kiss it to king Louis XI., anointing was made on forehead, both eyes, mouth, navel and hands, then king weared coronation mantle with gold lilies, archbishop put him gold ring, to right hand he gave him heavez gold sceptre and left hand of justice, after blessing of gloves made from tender clothe, chancellor called religious and world pairs and archbishop of Reims came to coronation act. Duke of Burgundia, Philip Good put on head of new ruler crown and by whole cathedral sounded: „Vivat roi forever!“ He ruled from 1461 till 1483. He came from house of Valois and was grandson of Charles VII. of France and Isabeau of Bavaria had children with Charlotte of Savoy would not be consummated until she was fourteen. Their children included: Louis, Joachim, Louise, Anne of France Duchess of Bourbon, Jeanne Duchess of Orleans, Francois, Charles VIII. of France and Franois. He was called Prudent and L’universelle aragne – Universal Spider, Spider King. He was one of most successful kings of France and united country, nickname got from political machinations, spinning a spider's web of plot and intrigues which marked his reign of 22 years. He found Order of Saint Michael, probably the oldest French Royal Order, which was later displaced by Order of the Holy Spirit. His descendants are still on thrones of todays Europe. On this web site is Notre Dame backround, not Reims, but Paris. Notre Dame occurs also in Bratislava, Chartres, Amiens, Paris and mentioned Reims.

During the last two or three years of his life Louis lived in great isolation in the château of Plessis-les-Tours. A swarm of astrologers and physicians preyed upon his fears and his purse. He believed in magician power of amulets /which are also used by apostle in apocryphas/and help of saints. He still made his strong hand felt both in France and in Italy, remaining to the last the terrible king. His fervent prayers were interrupted by instructions for the regency which was to follow. He died on the 30th of August 1483. According to his own wish was burried without royal state, in the church at Cléry, instead of at St. Denis. He left a son who ascended after him the throne of France.

By Eva Bartosova