The many King Louis of France

I have noticed, over time, that most people selling French coins and French furniture tend to get their Louis mixed up! History can sometimes be confusing and French history is no exception, especially when you try to remember the correct succession of French kings. So here are a few pointers.

There were a lot of Kings named Louis. Most famous are Saint-Louis (actually Louis IX), Louis XIV the sun king, Louis XVI who was guillotined. Louis XV is better known for having reigned between Louis XIV and Louis XVI.

Saint-Louis was born around 1214 and died 1270 in Tunis. He was canonised by 1297 but that doesn't mean he didn't rule with an iron fist and didn't resort to warfare and alliances to stay in power. He is much more famous because of his sainthood which Louis VI - aka the fat one - , Louis VII - aka the young one - cannot claim to have achieved.

Louis XIV, the sun king, ruled France for a very long time. He was the son of Louis XIII, but at his father's death he was too young to rule since he was only 4 years old. Louis XIV managed to take over the Spanish crown for some time, found a brilliant way to keep all the Nobles of his kingdom very busy through warfare and his court. Louis XIV also added new territories to continental France and promoted classical culture throughout Europe. However 90% of the population remained poor and uneducated, he also failed at defending English Catholicism. Louis XIV is also best known for having built the Versailles Palace. He was married to Marie Thérèse until her death in 1683. He was then secretly married to Mme de Maintenon. In 1685 he revoked the Edict of Nantes, a document protecting the rights of French Protestants. The move that was very popular at the time but proved to be his biggest mistake. He reigned for so long that his son, Louis the grand dauphin, his grandson Louis Duke of Bourgogne both died before he did.

Louis XV, the great-grandson of Louis XIV, born in 1710 and died in 1774. He became King at the age of 13 in 1723. His most famous achievement was his secret "black cabinet", a mysterious secret service and shadow government. His was involved in many wars in Poland, in Austria, but the seven-year war against Britain proved to be the most costly. By 1763, at the signing of the treaty of Paris, Louis XV had lost all of France's colonies in North America. His son, Louis dauphin never reigned.

In 1774, Louis XVI was crowned King of France. The grandson of Louis XV, he was considered by many as being mentally challenged. According to members of his own family, he should never have been king and should have been removed through the appointment of special regency. However his powerful wife, Marie-Antoinette, daughter of the Empress of Austria, managed to keep her husband on the throne. His reign was disastrous, not only was his country bankrupt, he financed the American War of Independence. His disregard for parliament and the belief he was King by divine right made any reconciliation with the growing forces of dissent impossible. By 1789 a full-blown revolution had broken out, and by 1792, he was executed by guillotine.

Louis XVII, son of Louis XVI, crowned in 1793 by his family died soon after in 1795.

Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI reigned after the defeat of Napoleon from 1814 to 1815 and from 1815 to 1824. His reign was interrupted by the return of Napoleon Bonaparte who only managed to cling to power for less than 100 days. His reign was authoritarian. His brother, Charles X, reigned until his abdication in 1830. His son, Louis XIX never reigned and abdicated in 1830. Louis-Philippe, duke of Orleans, from the Orleans family became king until the revolution of 1848. Louis-Philippe was the last King of France.

Many websites contain a wealth of information on French Kings, and people who claim to have a right to the non-existent throne of France.