King+Louis+VI

 toc King Louis VI, also known as King Louis the Fat, was arguably one of the most important monarchs of early France. Born on December 1, 1081, he ruled from 1108 until 1137. Louis the Fat’s reign represented a new epoch in Capetian rule and brought the power of the French monarchy to a height not seen since the Carolingian empire. =Personal Life =

Louis was married twice, initially to [|Lucienne de Rochefort] and later to [|Adélaide de Maurienne]. In spite of this, he produced children only from his second marriage, two of whom went on to be Kings of France. =Reign of Philip I =

[|Philip I] presided over a general decline in both the power of the crown and the monarchy’s relationship with the church.

Since the time of [|Charlemagne], successive French Kings had attempted to restore the crown to the primacy that it had enjoyed at that time and although Philip I did expand the territory over which he had direct control, his reign was marred by repeated attempts by power-hungry vassals to increase their own power. Likewise, relations with the church deteriorated greatly in this period leading to the excommunication of Philip in 1094 by the Archbishop of Lyon, which was confirmed by Pope Urban II in 1095. =Relationship with the Church =

Under Louis, and his adviser [|Abbot Suger], local noblemen who attacked the church were mercilessly prosecuted. One such malcontent was [|Thomas of Marle], who seized fortified positions in Crecy and Nogent, using them as a base to raid the surrounding countryside, plundering monasteries and robbing the clergy. Suger recounts the extent of Thomas’s depravity, saying that: ‘He spared not the clergy-fearing not the vengeance of the Church-nor the people for humanity's sake.’[1] The King was ‘was moved by the plaints of this great council [the synod at beauvais] and led an army against him [Thomas] right quickly.’[2] Louis used his role as defender of the church to great effect in subduing many of his rebellious vassals who had aligned against him, but he also provided royal support for improvements in church works. Erection of church buildings and establishments of monastic communities grew exponentially during Louis’ reign [3] and a good example of his benevolence in this field are the improvements he paid for to the [|Abbey of Saint-Denis]. Suger describes in particular the donation of a fine ‘vessel of praise’ to the abbey by the King, noting that it is ‘marvellous for both the quality and the quantity of its precious stones.’[4] Louis also curbed the excesses of many of his secular subordinates in relation to the Church. For example, razing the castle of the anti-clerical Burchard of Montmorency.[5] =Extension and Consolidation of Royal Power =

After Louis had subdued miscreant nobles such as Thomas of Marle [6], he often passed the lands gained into the administration of the church. Furthermore, the clergy often supplemented Louis’s //[|prévôts]// as administrative staff of the crown, ensuring that taxes were collected equitably and efficiently and also that these //prévôts// did not abuse their power, like the local magnates that they replaced[7] =Death and Succession =

Loius died in 1137 of [|dysentery] and was succeeded by his son [|Louis VII.]

[1]Suger, “Life of Louis VI,” in //Readings in European History: Vol. I//, ed. James Harvey Robinson, 202-4 (Boston: Ginn and co, 1904). [2] Ibidem [3]Bush, “The Consolidation Of Local Authority Through The Defense Of The Church In The Royal Domain Of France Under Louis VI (1101-1137) ” 69 [4]Suger, “On what was done in his administration,” //Medieval Sourcebook//, 23 November 1996, http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/sugar.asp (accessed August 20, 2011). [5]Suger, //The Deeds of Louis the Fat//, trans. Richard Cusimano and John Moorhead (Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 1992). 28 [6]Suger, “Life of Louis VI,” [7]Paul Westley Bush, “The Consolidation Of Local Authority Through The Defense Of The Church In The Royal Domain Of France Under Louis VI (1101-1137) ” 38 = = = =