Louis X of France

Louis X, known as the Quarrelsome, was the King of France from 1314 until his death in 1316. He was also the King of Navarre from 1305. During his time as king, he helped some people. He allowed serfs who could pay to become free and let Jews return to live in the kingdom.

His rule was difficult because he argued a lot with the nobility. These arguments began because of changes his father made to collect money and strengthen the power of the king.

Louis X had sad times in his personal life. His first wife, Margaret, was involved in a scandal and passed away. Later that same year, he married Clémence of Hungary. Louis passed away in 1316, and Clémence was expecting a baby at the time. When the baby boy was born, he was named King John I, but he lived only five days. After John I’s passing, Louis’s brother Philip became the next king, known as Philip V of France.

Biography

Louis was born in Paris, the eldest son of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre. He became the ruler of kingdom of Navarre in 1305 after his mother passed away and was crowned in 1307. At just 15 years old, he married Margaret of Burgundy, and they had a daughter named Joan. Louis was called "the Quarrelsome" because of the many disagreements during his time as ruler.

During the later years of his father's rule, Louis and Margaret were linked to a big scandal called the Tour de Nesle affair. In 1314, Margaret and two other queens, Blanche and Joan, were arrested for alleged actions against their husbands. Margaret and Blanche were tried and found guilty and faced serious consequences, while Joan was proven innocent. After his father died in 1314, Louis became King of France, though Margaret remained in prison and could not be officially crowned as queen. She passed away in 1315, and Louis married again just five days later to Clémence of Hungary. They were crowned together at Reims later that year.

Marriage and issue

In 1305, Louis married Margaret of Burgundy. They had a daughter named Joan II of Navarre. Sadly, Margaret passed away in 1315. That same year, Louis married Clémence of Hungary. She had a baby boy named John I of France just a few months after Louis died. The baby boy didn’t live long. Louis also had another daughter, Eudeline, who later became a leader in a group of nuns in Paris.

Domestic policy

Louis was king of Navarre for eleven years and king of France for less than two years. During his time as king, he dealt with fights among noble groups in the kingdom. He also worked on changes to bring in more money for the kingdom.

One big change was letting French serfs buy their freedom. This was meant to help pay for a war against Flanders. Serfs had to pay money to become free.

Louis also changed the rules about Jews in France. His father had made Jews leave France in 1306. Louis let them return, but only for twelve years and with certain rules. Jews had to wear a special mark and live in certain areas.

Death and legacy

Louis liked to play a game called jeu de paume, or real tennis. He was the first person to build indoor tennis courts in Paris around the end of the 13th century. Soon, other royal palaces in Europe did the same.

Louis died on 5 June 1316 at Vincennes after playing tennis and drinking cooled wine. He is thought to have died from pneumonia or pleurisy. He and his second wife Clémence are buried in Saint Denis Basilica. When he died, Clémence was expecting a baby, which made people wonder who would be the next king. His brother Philip helped rule until the baby, John I, was born. The baby lived for only five days. After that, Philip became king of France and Navarre.

In fiction

King Louis X is a main character in the book series Les Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings) by Maurice Druon. The books tell stories from French history. In 1972, there was a French TV show based on these books. Louis was played by an actor named Georges Ser. In 2005, a new TV show was made, and this time Louis was played by Guillaume Depardieu.