Individual Details
Louis VI King of France
(1081 - 1 Aug 1137)
Louis was born in Paris in 1081, the son of Philippe I, king of France, and Bertha of Holland. He was designated his father's successor in 1100. He was as gross and gluttonous as his father and has gone down in history as 'the Fat'. More is known about him than his predecessors thanks to the writings of his friend and mentor Suger, abbot of St. Denis, who from 1127 served both Louis VI and Louis VII as an adviser on the government of France and the administration of royal lands.
In 1104 Louis married Lucienne, daughter of Guy I, sire de Rochefort, but repudiated her in 1107. In 1108 he succeeded his father and was crowned king on 3 August 1108 at Orléans. In spite of his size, Louis was an energetic king and in the course of a long reign of twenty-nine years he did much to curb the growing power of the feudal nobles, many of whom had become semi-independent of the French crown. He was also skilful in his foreign policy and a deeply religious man.
In April 1115 in Paris, he married Adčle de Savoie, daughter of Umberto II, comte de Savoie and Gisela de Bourgogne, and they had seven sons and one daughter, of whom three sons and their daughter Constance would have progeny. In 1129 Abbé Suger started to build the abbey church of St. Denis, the first Gothic church with flying buttresses.
Louis' eldest son Philippe was designated successor in the customary way, but was killed while boar hunting in 1131, so the next son Louis took his place. In 1137 Louis VI arranged a splendid marriage for his son with the heiress of the duchy of Aquitaine, Eleanor de Poitou, and the marriage took place at Bordeaux on 22 July. During the festivities the king was taken seriously ill with dysentery, which had long plagued him. He returned to Paris as speedily as possible and there he had himself laid on a bed of cinders in the form of a cross, on which he died at the age of fifty-six on 1 August 1137, at Château Bethizy. He was buried at St. Denis.
Source: Leo van de Pas
In 1104 Louis married Lucienne, daughter of Guy I, sire de Rochefort, but repudiated her in 1107. In 1108 he succeeded his father and was crowned king on 3 August 1108 at Orléans. In spite of his size, Louis was an energetic king and in the course of a long reign of twenty-nine years he did much to curb the growing power of the feudal nobles, many of whom had become semi-independent of the French crown. He was also skilful in his foreign policy and a deeply religious man.
In April 1115 in Paris, he married Adčle de Savoie, daughter of Umberto II, comte de Savoie and Gisela de Bourgogne, and they had seven sons and one daughter, of whom three sons and their daughter Constance would have progeny. In 1129 Abbé Suger started to build the abbey church of St. Denis, the first Gothic church with flying buttresses.
Louis' eldest son Philippe was designated successor in the customary way, but was killed while boar hunting in 1131, so the next son Louis took his place. In 1137 Louis VI arranged a splendid marriage for his son with the heiress of the duchy of Aquitaine, Eleanor de Poitou, and the marriage took place at Bordeaux on 22 July. During the festivities the king was taken seriously ill with dysentery, which had long plagued him. He returned to Paris as speedily as possible and there he had himself laid on a bed of cinders in the form of a cross, on which he died at the age of fifty-six on 1 August 1137, at Château Bethizy. He was buried at St. Denis.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1081 | Paris, France | |||
| Marriage | Abt Apr 1115 | Paris, France - Adele de Savoia | |||
| Death | 1 Aug 1137 | Chateau Bethizy, near Paris | |||
| Burial | St. Denis, France |
Families
| Spouse | Adele de Savoia (1092 - 1154) |
| Child | Pierre de France, Sire of Courtenay (1126 - 1183) |
| Father | Philippe I KIng of France (1052 - 1108) |
| Mother | Bertha of Holland (1055 - 1093) |
| Sibling | Constance de France (1078 - 1125) |