Biography
Biography
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Louis (VI, The Fat, King of France 1108-1137)

 Born1108   Born At
 Died1137  Buried At
 FatherPhilippe (I, King of France 1060-1108)  MotherBertha (of Frisia, Holland)
 Born1108 / 
 Died1137 / 
Louis VI was born in around 1081 to Philippe I, king of France and Bertha of Holland. He was brought up on physical exercise and was a great eater and drinker hence his nickname. His youth was spent fighting, firstly the Normans in Vexin and then resolving disputes in Chartres and Agincourt. When he became king in 1108 he was mature and ready to rule. The monk Suger, who designed the basilica of St. Denis, was a great supporter of Louis and documented his life in great detail.

Louis' most important act was the defeat of the joint attack from England and Emperor Henry V in 1124. Louis was saved by the fast action of the vassals who organised huge numbers of men to move against the threat. Emperor Henry V actually turned back before engaging the French.

Louis arranged the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to his son, the future Louis VII, in an attempt to increase the territories his family could own. The Duke of Aquitaine possessed a quarter of France. Louis died in 1137 shortly after arranging the marriage and was succeeded by his son Louis.


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Parents

Fantasy image of Philippe (I, King of France 1060-1108)
Philippe (I, King of France 1060-1108)
Fantasy image of Bertha (of Frisia, Holland)
Bertha (of Frisia, Holland)

Contemporary People/Rulers

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Fantasy image of Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135)
Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135)
Fantasy image of Geoffrey (Plantagenet, 'The Fair', Count of Anjou)
Geoffrey (Plantagenet, 'The Fair', Count of Anjou)
Fantasy image of Stephen (of Blois, king of England 1135-1154)
Stephen (of Blois, king of England 1135-1154)
Fantasy image of David (I, King of Scotland 1124-1153)
David (I, King of Scotland 1124-1153)
Fantasy image of Alexander (I, King of Scotland 1107-1124)
Alexander (I, King of Scotland 1107-1124)
Fantasy image of Baldwin (II, King of Jerusalem 1118-1131)
Baldwin (II, King of Jerusalem 1118-1131)
Fantasy image of Payens, Hugh de
Payens, Hugh de
Fantasy image of Abelard, Peter
Abelard, Peter

 

Family Tree Details

Father:Philippe (I, King of France 1060-1108) (b.1052 - d.1108)
Mother:Bertha (of Frisia, Holland)
Show Graphical Tree
 Louis (VI, The Fat, King of France 1108-1137) (b.1108 - d.1137)
    +Adelaide (of Savoy) (b.1092 - d.1154)
        = Philip (of France) (b.1116 - d.1131)
        = Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
            +Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204)
            |   = Mary (of Champagne) (b.1145 - )
            |   = Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
            +Constance (of Castile)
            |   = Alys (Daugher of Louis VII) (b.1160 - d.1220)
            |   = Margaret (Young Queen of England) (b.1158? - d.1197?)
            |       +Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183)
            +Adela (of Champagne) (b.1145? - d.1206)
                = Philippe (II Augustus, King of France 1180-1223) (b.1165 - d.1223)
                |   +Isabella (of Hainault) ( - d.1190)
                |   |   = Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) (b.1187 - d.1226)
                |   +Ingeborg (of Denmark)
                |   +Agnes (of Meran) ( - d.1201)
                |       = Philip (of Boulogne) ( - d.1235)
                = Agnes (of France) (b.1171 - d.1220?)
 Louis (VI, The Fat, King of France 1108-1137) (b.1108 - d.1137)
    +Adelaide (of Savoy) (b.1092 - d.1154)
        = Philip (of France) (b.1116 - d.1131)
        = Louis (VII, The Young, King of France, 1137-1180) (b.1121 - d.1180)
            +Eleanor (of Aquitaine) (b.1122 - d.1204)
            |   = Mary (of Champagne) (b.1145 - )
            |   = Alice (Daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine) (b.1150 - d.1198)
            +Constance (of Castile)
            |   = Alys (Daugher of Louis VII) (b.1160 - d.1220)
            |   = Margaret (Young Queen of England) (b.1158? - d.1197?)
            |       +Henry ('the Young King') (b.1155 - d.1183)
            +Adela (of Champagne) (b.1145? - d.1206)
                = Philippe (II Augustus, King of France 1180-1223) (b.1165 - d.1223)
                |   +Isabella (of Hainault) ( - d.1190)
                |   |   = Louis (VIII, The Lion, King of France 1223-1226) (b.1187 - d.1226)
                |   +Ingeborg (of Denmark)
                |   +Agnes (of Meran) ( - d.1201)
                |       = Philip (of Boulogne) ( - d.1235)
                = Agnes (of France) (b.1171 - d.1220?)

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    Timeline

    1108

    Louis VI, the Fat, became king of France, upon the death of his father Philippe I. [1]

    1113(Age: 5yrs)

    Unable to get King Henry to abandon the castle at Gisors, King Louis VI signed a treaty giving Henry control over Brittany and Maine. [2]

    1124(Age: 16yrs)

    Louis VI of France, with the help of his vassals, mobilized a huge number of men to avert a joint invasion from England and the Emperor Henry V. [1]

    1127(Age: 19yrs)

    Charles the Good, Count of Flanders, was murdered as he prayed in the church of Saint-Donatien at Bruges. His murder came as a huge shock and, as he did not have a son to inherit his title, the murder started a period of conflict in the region. Several claiments came forward including William of Ypres, Thierry of Alsace and William Clito. William Clito's claim was backed by Louis VI. [3]

    1129(Age: 21yrs)

    Following the Capetian tradition of the French Kings, King Louis VI of France had his eldest son Philip of France crowned at Reims Cathedral. Philip then became joint ruler of France. [4]

    1137(Age: 29yrs)

    King Stephen sailed to Normandy to confront Geoffrey Plantagenet, count of Anjou and the Angevins who were attacking the southern areas of Normandy. Although Stephen had some success he was not able to deal fully with the count. Stephen did come to an agreement with the French King Louis VI and Eustace, Stephen's son, paid homage to the French king for Normandy. [5]

    The French king died. He was succeeded by his son Louis VII.

    King Louis VII was crowned king of France, a few months after the death of his father Louis VI. [1]

    On this day in history:

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    Selection of references used:

    • 1: Duc de Castries, The lives of the Kings and Queens of France, ISBN:0-297-77676-2, Erdington Library
    • 2: R. L. Storey, The Medieval World 800 - 1490, ISBN:0-09-178264-3
    • 3: Z.N. Brooke, A History of Europe
    • 4: Robert Fawtier (translation by Lionel Butler and R J Adam), The Capetian Kings of France, 1966, St. Martin's Press (1966), Oxfam bookshop
    • 5: The Plantagenet Chronicles, ISBN:1-85501-685-0

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