Louis VI of France

Louis VI the Fat (French: Louis VI le Gros) (December 1, 1081 – August 1, 1137) was king of France from 1108 to 1137.

A member of the Capetian Dynasty, Louis was born in Paris, the son of Philippe I of France, and Bertha of Holland (1055-1094).

He married in 1104: 1) Lucienne de Rochefort - the marriage was annulled.

He married in 1115: 2) Adélaide de Maurienne (c.1100-1154)

• Their children:
  • 1) Philippe (1116 - October 13, 1131), king of France (1129-1131)
  • 2) Louis VII (1120 - November 18, 1180), king of France
  • 3) Henri (1121 - 1174), archbishop of Rheims
  • 4) Hugues (c.1122 - ????)
  • 5) Robert (c.1123 - October 11, 1188), count of Dreux
  • 6) Constance (c.1124 - August 16, 1176), married Eustace IV, count of Boulogne
  • 7) Philippe (1125 - 1161), bishop of Paris
  • 8) Pierre (c.1126 - 1180), married Elisabeth, lady of Courtenay

Almost all of his 29 year reign was spent fighting either the "robber barons" who plagued Paris, or the English. Nonetheless, King Louis managed to reinforce his power considerably and endeared himself to the working classes of France.

Louis VI died on August 1, 1137 and is interred in Saint Denis Basilica.

He was succeeded on the throne by his son Louis VII.

References

• Suger, Abbot of Saint Denis,. The Deeds of Louis the Fat. Translated with introduction and notes by Richard Cusimano and John Moorhead. Washington, DC : Catholic University of America Press,1992. (ISBN 0813207584)
• Suger, Abbot of Saint Denis,. The Deeds of Louis the Fat. Translated by Jean Dunbabin (this version is free, but has no annotations)