Louis IX of France

Saint Louis IX, King of France, 1226 to 1270

A member of the Capetian dynasty born on April 25, 1215 at Poissy, France, the son of King Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile.

His father died when Louis was eleven years old and he was crowned in1226 in the cathedral at Reims. His mother acted as Regent until 1234 and continued as an important councillor to the king until her death in 1252.

He married on May 27, 1234, Marguerite de Provence (1221 - December 21, 1295).

Their children were:

• 1) Philippe III (May 1, 1245 - October 5, 1285)
• 2) Isabelle (March 2, 1241 - January 28, 1271)
• 3) Louis (February 25, 1244 - January, 1260)
• 4) Jean Tristan (1250 - August 3, 1270)
• 5) Blanche (1253 - 1323)
• 6) Marguerite (1254 - 1271)
• 7) Robert (1256 - February 7, 1317)
• 8) Agnès (c. 1260 - December 19, 1327)
• 9) Pierre (1251 - 1284)
• 10) Blanche (1240 - April 29, 1243)
• 11) Jean (1248 - March 10, 1248)

The art patronage of Louis drove much innovation in Gothic art and architecture, and the style of his court radiated throughout Europe by both the purchase of art objects from Parisian masters for export and by the marriage of the king's many daughters to foreign husbands and their subsequent introduction of Parisian models elsewhere. Louis' personal chapel, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, was copied more than once by his descendants elsewhere.

Louis went on crusade twice, in 1248 and then in 1270.

King Louis IX died near Tunis on August 25, 1270. His finger is interred at Saint Denis Basilica but most of his body is buried in Tunisia.

Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the canonization of Louis in 1297, the only French Monarch ever to be made a Saint.

Louis IX was succeeded by his son, Philippe III.