France during the reign of King Louis VIII 1223-1226

Abstract

During the reign of King Louis VIII, France witnessed continued growth, expansion of its area, and an increase in its resources, despite the short period of his rule, which lasted approximately three years and five months. It is an extension of the great success achieved by his father, King Philip Augustus, who rooted the Capetian rule in France through his balanced policy in managing the kingdom. On the economic level, the treasury was in good condition to the point of sufficiency. There was even a reserve of funds in 1226, the last year of his reign. He was also able to achieve a new episode of success in the conflict with the Kingdom of England, where he controlled vast lands in southwestern France that were subject to the English, so that nothing remained of their possessions in France except Gascony and Bordeaux. On the other hand, France’s relationship with the Roman Church became very close, and this was evident in King Louis VIII’s leadership of the Crusade against the heretical Cathars in southern France. This campaign had a double benefit: the first was that it imposed the control of the French crown over large areas of southern France. Had it not been for the king’s sudden death, he would have been able to control all of southern France. The second benefit was that the king became, in the eyes of The Roman Church is one of the saints and protectors of Christianity from heretics. All the privileges granted by the Church to those who go on crusades to the Holy Land apply to him and his followers.