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Louis XII

Louis XII
By Frederic J. Baumgartner

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Product Description

The reign of Louis XII (1498-1515) has been much neglected by historians. Bernard Chevalier has recently described it as belonging to a "no man's land where neither the medievalists nor the modernists dare to penetrate." Overshadowed by the spectacular rule of his successor Francis I, Louis XII has been oddly passed over. While not in the front rank of French monarchs, Louis XII, "The Father of the People, " remains an interesting and appealing figure. The events of his reign were highly significant to the future of the French state: from the unremittingly brutal Italian campaigns to Henry VIII's invasion, from Louis's disputes with the Papacy to his marriages' political complications. France's church, legal system, and cultural life (most markedly the introduction of the Renaissance) were all subject to significant change, and many of the achievements commonly associated with Francis I were in fact rooted in those of his predecessor. This is a lucid and highly readable account of a fascinating period in French history and is essential to a clear understanding of sixteenth-century France.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #1019995 in Books
  • Published on: 1996-05-15
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 319 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
King of France from 1498 to 1515, Louis XII is portrayed in the Cloisters' Unicorn Tapestries with Anne of Brittany. Baumgartner, in the first English biography of Louis, omits this fact, but his account of their marriage (the second for each) makes very interesting reading, as does Louis's early life and reign generally. Responsible for justice, prosperity, and tranquillity in France, for invasions of Italy, and for the Renaissance transformation of the Chateau de Blois, this king, called "Father of the People," has been neglected by historians. Baumgartner (history, Virginia Polytechnic & State Univ., and the author of Henry II, Duke Univ. Pr., 1988) gives a strong case for Louis in this work. Recommended for all French history collections.
R. James Tobin, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., Milwaukee
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
FREDERIC J. BAUMGARTNER is Professor of History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

Customer Reviews

Not Many Choices3
Baumgartner is definitely an historian - not a writer! Choices are limited for information on this monarch in English, so the reader takes what is available. Unevenly written, fairly well organized, reasonably interesting but the writing was choppy and the book poorly edited.

The Great Consolidator5
Louis XII ranks as one of those historical figures who is perhaps best measured by the praise of his contemporaries, who voted him "Father of the People" for his stabilizing influence upon the French body politic. Baumgartner's work is a blend of biographic narrative and academic study that chronicles his main achievements - particularly his restoration of the French economy and tax system - as well as the several disasters of his reign, notably the botched invasion of Italy and the diplomatic entanglement with Milan. Perhaps the most endearing legacy of Louis - rare in French leaders - is his moderation. And by comparison with some of his contemporaries: Alexander VI, Julius II and Henry VIII, to name a few - he was certainly a much more congenial fellow.

AN UNLIKELY POPULAR HERO4
The author has written a lucid and interesting account of this French king, "The Father of His People." This book bridges a gap in the history of French monarchs, and thoroughly covers the early modern era. Perhaps the author has been kinder to Louis XII than he deserved; this king's repeated aggression in Italy brought France to the brink of disaster. His discussion of French government is excellent, and cleared up several questions for me. It has helped me understand other writings on the history of France greatly. My only criticisms are minor and technical: first, the typeface was hard on the eyes, and this is a densely written book. Second, I think that historical biographers have an absolute duty to their readers to include genealogical tables, complete with all pertinent dates. In short, I recommend this book; I learned a great deal from it.