Download His Early Life The Boy King

His Early Life
Saint Louis was born at Poissy, a little west of Paris, France, on April 25, 1214, and was baptized
there as well. His parents were Louis VIII, King of France, and Queen Blanche. The Queen was
responsible for his education. She made certain that he had excellent tutors who taught him
every subject he needed in order to be the next King of France, with a particular and strong
emphasis on his knowing and loving Jesus and the Catholic Faith.
The Boy King
Coat of Arms of the
Kingdom of France
(Ancien)
When he was twelve years old, his father Louis VIII died, and he became
Louis IX, King of France. Because he was so young, his mother Queen
Blanche was appointed regent. (A regent is a person appointed to
administer a country because the monarch cannot or is still a child).
Queen Blanche arranged for Louis' coronation at the Cathedral of Rheims
on the First Sunday of Advent, 1226. She was a strong and clever regent,
and did many things that ultimately strengthened Louis' position as King
when he assumed that role in 1235.
Husband and Father
In May of 1234, Louis married Margaret of Provence. They loved each other very much and
were blessed with eleven children, five sons and six daughters. Louis was a wonderful example
of a loving Christian husband and father. He encouraged his children to absolutely put Jesus
and the Church first in their lives, and to love and serve the poor in imitation of Jesus.
Sainte Chapelle Cathedral
The Builder and the Patron of Architecture
Louis always worked for the good of his people. And so he built hospitals, churches like Sainte
Chapelle, which is considered an architectural gem, monasteries, convents, and schools, an
example of which is the Sorbonne. The Sorbonne, which still exists, became the seat of the
theological faculty of Paris.
The Crusader and Knight
Siege of Tunis during the 8th Crusade
In 1244, Louis became very ill with a form of malaria and everyone
was afraid he was dying. But he recovered, and immediately
announced that he was going to "take the cross," which meant he
was going to go on a Crusade. The Crusaders' goal was to take the
Holy Land back from the Saracens, and have it governed by
Christians instead. The Crusades had been going on for almost 200
years. Louis was not successful, and after about six years, he
returned to France. He wore a cross on his shoulder the rest of his
life indicating he intended to go on another Crusade. In 1270, he
went on his second Crusade. However, while on the Crusade he
became very ill in Tunis and died on August 25, 1270.
Lover of the Poor
From the time he was a child he loved the poor. He fed beggars at his table. He washed the
feet of the poor, and took care of the needs of lepers. He established hospitals for them. He
fed over one hundred poor people daily, often serving them himself. He told his children: Let
your heart be tender and full of pity toward those who are poor, miserable, and afflicted, and
comfort and help them to the utmost of your power.
The Just and Fair, Lover of Peace
Louis was known far and wide for his justice and fairness, and for
being a lover of peace. He eliminated the feuding among French
nobles and vassals (persons who held land from a lord and received
protection in return for homage and allegiance) that was common
before his time. He protected vassals and tenants from cruel lords.
Louis reformed the system of taxation. He reformed the courts.
The "King's court" became a popular court. Whether in his palace
or sitting under a spreading oak in the forest of Vincennes, he
listened to any subject who had a problem and gave them
judgments both wise and impartial. He worked to remove the
reasons wars were fought so wars would stop and everyone would
be at peace.
Oak Tree in the Forest of Vincennes
Saint Louis
Louis loved life. He possessed common sense and great energy. He was gracious and kind. He
had a playful sense of humor, loved good conversation and was a happy person. He saw all
good things as gifts from our loving God. He was strong in his Faith, idealistic and just. He
loved his family, the poor, the Church, and God. It is no wonder that just twenty-seven years
after he died, Louis IX of France was canonized a saint of the Catholic Church. He is the only
king of France to be declared a saint.