Ellie Wood Keith Genealogy

King Louis VII De France

King Louis VII De France

Male 1120 - 1180  (60 years)

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  • Name King Louis VII De France 
    Born 1120  France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    History BIOGRAPHY
    Louis was born in 1120, the son of Louis VI \'the Fat\', king of France, and Adèle of Savoie. In 1131, at the age of eleven, he was anointed as his father\'s successor; and when his father died in 1137 he became sole ruler of France. In the same year he married Eleanore de Poitou, duchess of Aquitaine, so extending the Capetingian lands to the Pyrenees. Louis and Eleanore had three children of whom a son was still born and two daughters would have progeny.

    He continued his father\'s program of appointing trustworthy people of lower origin to the administration of his government, so improving the prestige of the monarchy. From 1141 to 1143 he was involved in a fruitless conflict with Thibaut, count of Champagne, and with the papacy. After this period his relations with the popes improved to such an extent that he supported Pope Alexander II against Emperor Friedrich I Barbarossa and even allowed the pope refuge in France.

    In 1163 the construction began of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. It would take until 1235 before it was finished.

    The main threats to his kingdom came from Geoffrey, count of Anjou, and later from Geoffrey\'s son, the future Henry II, king of England. When Louis VII went on crusade he took his wife with him. However, on their return he divorced her, the grounds officially being consanguinity, but the reasons were her rumoured affairs. Almost immediately she married King Henry II of England, taking Aquitaine with her. Louis VII then married Constance of Castile, with whom he had two daughters of whom Alix would have progeny. When Constance died he married Alix de Champagne who became the mother of his son and heir, the future King Philippe II August.

    Louis VII might have defeated King Henry II had he made a concerted attack instead of the half-hearted attacks on Normandy; at the same time France was spared attacks from the Anglo-Normans because of their internal quarrels. Louis also benefited from the long-standing quarrel between Henry II and Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, and from a revolt by Henry\'s sons.  [1
    Died 18 Sep 1180  Paris, Ile de France, France, age 60 Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Basilique Royale DE Saint-Denis, Ile-DE-France, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I401  Ellie Wood Keith
    Last Modified 5 Feb 2018 

    Father Roi Louis of France, VI,   b. 1 Dec, 1081, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Aug, 1137, Chateau de Bethisy-Saint-Pierre, Picardie, France, age 55 Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years) 
    Relationship putative 
    Mother Adele De Savoie,   b. Abt 1100, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Nov, 1154, Montmartre, Paris, lle de France, France, age 54 Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 54 years) 
    Relationship putative 
    Family ID F204  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Adele (Adelaide) (Alix) De Champagne,   b. 1140, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Jun 1206, Paris, Ile de France, France, age 66 Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years) 
    Children 
    +1. King Philippe II of France, & Dieudonne,   b. 21 Aug 1165, Gonesse, Ile de France, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Jul 1223, Mantes-La-Jolie, Ile de France, France Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 57 years)
    Last Modified 15 May 2017 
    Family ID F203  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Louis VII, King of France 1137-1180
    Louis VII, King of France 1137-1180

  • Sources 
    1. [S64] Genealogics, Leo Van de Pas, http://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00000211&tree=LEO.