Louis XII

Louis XII, born on June twenty-seventh, fourteen sixty-two, was a prominent sovereign who ascended to the French throne in fourteen ninety-eight. He was the son of Charles I, Duke of Orléans, and Marie of Cleves, and succeeded his second cousin once removed, Charles VIII, who passed away childless. Louis's early life was marked by a politically motivated marriage to Joan, the disabled daughter of King Louis XI, aimed at extinguishing the Orléans branch of the House of Valois.

Upon becoming king, Louis XII annulled his marriage to Joan with the approval of Pope Alexander VI and married Anne, Duchess of Brittany, the widow of Charles VIII. This strategic union solidified the personal union between Brittany and France, enhancing his political standing. Louis was also a significant figure in the Mad War, where he initially opposed the French monarchy but later gained favor after being pardoned by Charles VIII following his capture at the Battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier in fourteen eighty-eight.

Louis XII's reign was characterized by his involvement in the Italian Wars, where he sought to expand French influence in Italy. He successfully conquered the Duchy of Milan in fifteen hundred and advanced into the Kingdom of Naples, which he claimed in fifteen oh one. However, his reign faced challenges, and by fifteen oh four, he was compelled to cede Naples to Spain due to a coalition led by Ferdinand II of Aragon. Despite these setbacks, he retained control of Milan and initiated a third Italian War from fifteen oh eight to fifteen sixteen, showcasing the military talents of the Chevalier de Bayard.

Unlike many of his predecessors, Louis XII did not seek to undermine local governments or nobility privileges, earning him the title of