Medieval and Middle Ages History Timelines - Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226)

Biography

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Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226)

Born		Born At
Died	1226	Buried At
Father	Philippe (II Augustus, King of France 1180-1223)	Mother	Isabella (of Hainault)

ouis was the son of Philippe II and Isabella of Hainault. He only reigned for three years from 1223 after the death of his father until his own death in 1226. The events that Louis was involved in occurred earlier in his life as Prince Louis against King John, King of England. John became unpopular with the barons of England who rebelled against him. They asked Prince Louis to claim the English throne instead. Prince Louis invaded England in 1215 and by 1216 was in a strong position to become the King of England, but after the death of King John the barons rallied behind King John's son Henry and defeated Prince Louis at Lincoln.

Event Location Map (click image to view)

Family Tree Details

Father:	Philippe (II Augustus, King of France 1180-1223) (b.1165 - d.1223)
Mother:	Isabella (of Hainault) ( - d.1190)

Show Graphical Tree

Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) ( - d.1226)
     +Blanche (of Castile) (b.1188 - d.1252)
          =LOUIS (IX, King of France, St. Louis) ( - d.1270)
               +Margaret (of Provence)
                    =Philippe (III, King of France 1270-1285) ( - d.1285)
                         +Isabella (of Aragon) ( - d.1271)
                         |    =Philippe (IV, The Fair, King of France 1285-1314) ( - d.1314)
                         |    =Charles (Count of Valois, Anjou and Maine)
                         +Maria (of Brabant) (b.1254 - d.1322)
                              =Margaret (of France) (b.1279 - d.1317)

Timeline

1215

Oct (to 1217)

Baron's war

After the Magna Carta was annulled and it was clear that King John was not going to agree to the terms of the charter the civil war between King John and the rebel barons began.The barons offered the English crown to Prince Louis, the son of King Philippe II of France and invited him to invade England. John confiscated the rebel barons' lands and gave them to his own supporters. King John besieged Rochester Castle where a garrison of men had been left by the barons. The garrison was starved out and the castle fell to the King.

1216

...

Berkhamsted Castle is captured by the French

Prince Louis of France besieged the castle at Berkhamsted. It fell to his army within a few weeks.

Feb

Small French fleet land in London

A small French army landed in London. Their commander informed the rebel barons that Prince Louis would soon arrive from France.

May 21

Prince Louis of France claims English Throne

Invited by the barons opposed to king John, Prince Louis of France landed in England to claim the English Throne. Louis captured Rochester Castle after a short siege.

Jun (to Oct)

Prince Louis advances across England

Prince Louis advanced on Winchester and captured the city and its castle. Elsewhere, Windsor Castle and Dover Castle were besieged by the rebel barons. Both castles were defended and held out against the sieges. King John used Corfe Castle in the south-west as his base of operations while he planned his campaign against the rebel barons and Prince Louis.

Sep

William of Cassingham

A man called William of Cassingham, possibly known as Willekin of the Weald, supported King John against the invaders and attacked the rebel barons and French in whatever means he could using a form of guerrilla warfare.

1217

...

Portchester castle captured

Prince Louis captured and almost destroyed the castle at Portchester.

Apr

Siege of Mountsorrel Castle

Royalists besieged the French controlled Mountsorrel Castle in Lincolnshire. When Louis sent reinforcements to assist those in the castle the royalists moved away to Nottingham. The French army then made the mistake of moving on to Lincoln where the royalists had held out against previous attacks.

May 20

Battle of Lincoln

Henry III's supporters defeated the forces belonging to Prince Louis and the rebel barons that were besieging the castle at Lincoln.

1223

...

Louis VIII becomes King of France

Louis VIII became king of France, upon the death of his father Philippe Augustus.

1226

Nov 8

Louis IX becomes King of France

At just twelve years old, upon the death of his father, Louis IX became king of France. France was governed by the queen-mother Blanche of Castile, the widow of Louis VIII. The time was right for the English to regain lost ground in Normandy, but it would be several years before any expeditions would take place.

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