Roi Louis XI

I was born in 1423, the son of Charles VII and Mary de Anjou. I was by far the best Valois King, ruling for 22 years I united most of France through diplomacy and treachery, and laid the foundation for absolute monarchy for the likes of Louis XIV, my son and others. It is indeed possible I was the first absolute King of France, even if my son and a few after me could not be. Most Kings before me were very reliant upon the minority nobility, whereas I had always appreciated the Merchant and working classes, seeing the Nobles as more and more decadent and yet another pawn in a greater plan for France. I'm a master deceiver, and on many occasions, the nobility and I feuded, for they did not want a united France while I did. France was split into many small to medium sized Duchies, and while my father was the supposed ruler of these Duchies, in reality he had to rely very heavily on them, not vice versa as it should have been. However; My diplomatic genius won, and in the end I had weakened the nobility tremendously, and most importantly, I defeated Burgundy, the biggest thorn in my reign. I also officially ended the war 100 years war with England, merely by bribing them and giving them some finer French wine. ============================================================ =========================== The few wars that I participated in or caused were mostly domestic and served a purpose, unlike many of the future Louis XIV's. My nemesis Charles the Bold and his demise being one of them, enabled France to dominate continental Europe, with only Spain able to challenge us. He died "with valor" on swiss pikes, but I view it as an idiots death. I had a very large impact on European history in general, but many even in France do not recognise it, for I was not a charismatic or social man like Louis XIV. More often than not people care more about the glory of great conquering monarchs than the great monarchs who stabilized and united a Kingdom. ============================================================ =========================== Before becoming King, I was a thorn in my fathers side. The most notable rebellion I had participated in was a Noble rebellion in 1440 which was called"the Praguerie", which sought to install me as regent over my incompetent and weak father. It was defeated, but my slow-witted father forgave me, and let me come back to his court and Kingdom. However; he knew I still hated him, and in 1446 he ordered me out of his court and sent me to the province Dauphiné, where he commanded me to establish order. He frequently summoned me to come back for various reasons, including the days where he laid upon his bed dieing. But I would never see him again in person, denying every request he sent. ============================================================ =========================== I ruled as a King in Dauphiné, many actually pleased with my rule and considering me a very competent and aware monarch. I was using it as a base of sorts for my plans against my father. Charles would send an army to Dauphiné eventually, sick of my intrigue. I would flee to Burgundy, where Duke Phillip the Good sheltered me with his son and my future nemesis, Charles the Bold. Charles was furious with Burgundy, but could do almost nothing, at least in his mind. Eventually I heard my father was dieing, so I rushed back to claim my throne, before my brother Charles (Duke de Berry) could beat me to it. ============================================================ =========================== I never succeeded in directly overthrowing my father, but maybe the stress I had given him led to his death, though unfortunately that is doubtful. My first task as King was to eliminate many of the Nobles birth rights, which included a claim to many of the lands that should rightfully belong to the King. Some historians and romantic literature paints me up as gobbling up every bit of land for my "selfish desires" effectively ending a much romanticized era of chivalry, but it was hardly a noble era to begin with. I was merely a product of the times, but I also saw that the system the nobles wanted was far too outdated and harmful, and France could not afford to lag behind anymore then it already had been. On a positive note, I am credited with establishing a new system for nobility, the earliest version of the so-called "Estates". I allowed merchants to purchase titles for much money, which was part of the reason France flourished under my reign. I would be painted as a villain despite expanding who qualified to be Nobles, which shows the ignorance of many to begin with. I was hardly a King who let the poor starve while I lived in luxury. ============================================================ =========================== After I had taken my throne, many of my "friends" plotted against me, and many more of them who were part of the Praguerie. They sought to use me all along, just as I suspected, so I had them killed for being traitors. Many however submitted to me, and I forgave them. Some however refused to submit, and one man in particular whom I had been close with was one of them. Because of how much he hurt me, I had him confined to a cage like the animal he was for the rest of his life, mind you after I gave him two pardons in hopes of him realizing the errors of his ways. ============================================================ =========================== I enjoyed science and astrology, two subjects very much loathed by the church, yet I was known as perhaps overly pious, to the point of insanity. I was known to be in constant prayer for almost every little matter, yet I would also tax the clergy, something seen as quite extreme back then and in some circles even today! Because of this, it's difficult to paint if I truly was a loyal Christian or not. It is one of the many mysteries of my personality, my own fault for not being a more social person. ============================================================ =========================== As stated, I was renowned for the cages that I kept certain criminals in, mostly traitors, and of all places my very own palace. A man of my court once wrote that the cages were indeed too small, but that the men inside normally deserved their fates, so little judgment was passed on me for this unusual punishment. ============================================================ =========================== I died on August 30'th, 1483. On my death bed, I remember the astrologers I trusted preying my fears, which mostly consisted of my family betraying me as I had betrayed my father, perhaps showing some sort of guilt for my previous actions. They also ended up stealing much of my treasures and what personal wealth I had left. There was nothing I could do about it however; and I died feeling betrayed and even more depressed than I had been before I died. I felt as if I had no allies, and very rarely would I allow anybody by my own handpicked guards to be where I was residing. I either died of a stroke or consumption. ============================================================ =========================== Because I was never a social man, I was not a popular King, considered to be quite nervous and even paranoid, perhaps suffering social anxiety as modern psychology would call it. As a result, my Kingdom did not mourn my death actively much at all. I died one of the more unpopular Kings, though I wasn't hated, I wasn't loved either, which is infact perhaps the reason I am one of the more obscure Kings of France. Thankfully, while I get less credit than I deserve, no one disputes the fact I was indeed a great King, and even English history looks upon my accomplishments positively, when I'm even mentioned, that is. ============================================================ =========================== Despite the fact I was dieing, it is said I continued to poke my nose in everybody's business in France, and that I would always understand and listen to the people. On my death, I appointed my daughter Anne as regent of my rather slow-witted son, who was too young to reign to begin with. I was confident she could perhaps even help him become the great man I was. My daughter Anne and I would remain close, and I only have the fondest memories of her. History is not certain of the relationship I had with my son, though it is known I was paranoid and nervous around him. ============================================================ ===========================