Louis XIII 1601-43
King of France

The eldest son of Henri IV of France and his second wife Marie de M�dicis, he was born at Fontainebleau, and was only nine years old when his father was assassinated. In 1615 his mother, as regent, arranged his marriage to Anne of Austria (daughter of Philip III of Spain). Their eldest son, not born until 1638, succeeded him as Louis XIV. In 1617 he overthrew the regency of his mother, exiling her to the provinces, and assumed power. A devout Catholic, he attempted with moderate success to subdue the French Huguenots, and supported Emperor Ferdinand II in his struggle with the German Protestants. Conscientious, deeply religious and reserved, he had a strong sense of his royal position. In 1624 he appointed as his Chief Minister Cardinal Richelieu, who became the dominating influence of his reign. Richelieu subdued Huguenot resistance with the capture of La Rochelle (1628), while he supported the Protestants in Germany to prevent Habsburg domination of Europe. In 1629 Louis led a campaign in Italy to prevent Spanish expansion there. Although Richelieu was largely responsible for the centralization of administration and systematic patronage of the arts, the king was no cipher, and defended his minister against various plots, especially on the Day of Dupes (1630). On the death of Richelieu (1642) he turned to Cardinal Mazarin, who became his widow's favourite during her regency for Louis XIV.

Bibliography: E W Marvick, Louis XIII (1987)