Louis X of France
(1289-1316)
BIRTH
October 4, 1289
PLACE
Paris, France
DEATH
June 5, 1316
PLACE
Vincennes, France
FAMILY
WIFE
Clementia of Hungary
(1293-1328)
CHILDREN
Joan I of Navarre
(1273-1305)
HOMES
NICKNAMES
le Hutin
POLITICAL VIEWS
SERF FREEDOM PURCHASE ADVOCATE
RELIGIOUS VIEWS
CHRISTIAN
CATHOLIC
MEMBERSHIPS
AWARDS
Louis X (1289–1316), called the Quarreler, ruled Navarre from 1305 and France from 1314 after his father Philip IV. His reign faced noble resistance, financial pressure and defeat in Flanders. In 1315 he offered serfs on royal lands freedom for payment and readmitted Jews under restrictive conditions. His death left a pregnant queen, Clementia of Hungary. Their posthumous son John I lived only days; Louis’s brother Philip V then took the French crown.
EARLY LIFE
Louis was born on October 4, 1289, in Paris, the eldest son of King Philip IV and Joan I of Navarre. When his mother died in 1305, he became king of Navarre. In 1305 he married Margaret of Burgundy. In 1314 Margaret was accused of adultery in the Tour de Nesle affair and imprisoned at Château Gaillard, where she died in 1315. Their daughter, Joan, later became queen of Navarre.
Louis became king of France on his father's death in November 1314. He faced a reaction by nobles against his father's policies and in 1315 had his father's minister Enguerrand de Marigny executed. He granted charters confirming the rights of provincial nobles.
In 1315 he married Clementia of Hungary. That year his campaign against Flanders failed when heavy rains bogged down his army. He also issued an ordinance allowing serfs on royal lands to buy their freedom.
In June 1316 Louis died at Vincennes, reportedly after drinking cold wine following a game of jeu de paume. His posthumous son, John I, lived only five days.
CAREER
DEATH
In 1314, Margaret, Blanche and Joan — the latter two being the wives of Louis' brothers Charles and Philip, respectively — were arrested on charges of infidelity. When these failed, Charles then convinced Louis to bring sorcery charges against him instead, which proved more effective and led to de Marigny's execution at Vincennes in April 1315. In July 1315, Louis X issued an edict effectively abolishing serfdom in the royal domain. Accordingly, Louis issued a charter in 1315, readmitting the Jews subject to various conditions. Louis had prohibited exports of grain and other material to Flanders in 1315. In 1315 he offered serfs on royal lands freedom for payment and readmitted Jews under restrictive conditions. Louis became king of France on his father's death in November 1314. He faced a reaction by nobles against his father's policies and in 1315 had his father's minister Enguerrand de Marigny executed. He granted charters confirming the rights of provincial nobles. In 1315 he married Clementia of Hungary. He also issued an ordinance allowing serfs on royal lands to buy their freedom. In June 1316 Louis died at Vincennes, reportedly after drinking cold wine following a game of jeu de paume. His posthumous son, John I, lived only five days.
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