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Louis XIII of France

Also known as Louis the Just (epithet)

Fontainebleau, 27 Sep 1601 – Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 1643

15 facts3 sources

Animated by AI

About Louis XIII

Louis XIII of France: Two Crowns, One Reign

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Louis XIII’s birth in 1601 at Fontainebleau and his death in 1643 at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Both date claims are marked probable and disputed, so the collection presents these details without treating them as fully verified. 12

His rule is presented through the crowns of France and Navarre. A probable summary identifies him as King of France from 1610 and as King of Navarre until 1620, when the Navarrese crown was merged with the French crown. Another title record describes him as King of France and Navarre from 1617 to 1643, reflecting a different formulation of the royal titles. 34

The evidence identifies Henry IV of France as Louis XIII’s father and Marie de’ Medici as his mother. 56

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born27 Sep 1601, FontainebleauRecords disagree1 source
  • TitleKing of France, 1610–1617or French co-prince of Andorra, 1610–1643 · Monarch of Lower Navarre, 1610–1617 · King of France and Navarre, 1617–1643not verified1 source
  • TitleMonarch of Lower Navarre, 1610–1617or King of France, 1610–1617 · French co-prince of Andorra, 1610–1643 · King of France and Navarre, 1617–1643not verified1 source
  • TitleFrench co-prince of Andorra, 1610–1643or King of France, 1610–1617 · Monarch of Lower Navarre, 1610–1617 · King of France and Navarre, 1617–1643not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of France and Navarre, 1617–1643or King of France, 1610–1617 · French co-prince of Andorra, 1610–1643 · Monarch of Lower Navarre, 1610–1617not verified1 source
  • Died1643, Saint-Germain-en-LayeRecords disagree1 source
  • MotherMarie de' Medicinot verified1 source
  • FatherHenry IV of Francenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 27 Sep 1601

    Born in Fontainebleau

  2. 1610–1617

    King of France

  3. 1610–1617

    Monarch of Lower Navarre

  4. 1610–1643

    French co-prince of Andorra

  5. 1617–1643

    King of France and Navarre

  6. 1638–1640

    2 children are born

  7. 1643

    Dies in Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During his lifetime

He lived through 5 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Fontainebleau.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1600s · Louis XIII is born in Fontainebleau

What people wore

Clothing debt settled for 6 livres, 8 sols

In 1626, a servant named Jean Trottier received a new doublet made of coarse linen, a white frieze waistcoat, and white serge hose, which settled a debt of 6 livres and 8 sols.

Daily life

Water fetching and limited lighting

Water had to be fetched from pumps or rivers through daily manual labor, as there was no modern infrastructure. Lighting was limited and costly, often forcing families to shape their evening routines around the availability of candles or natural light.

Work

Workday schedules and labor patterns

The workday typically lasted from dawn until dusk, with summer hours from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM and winter hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Workers often faced a labor-intensive schedule, and those in the building trades were famously noted for being especially restless or turbulent.

Music

Peasants danced to pipe and tabor

French peasants frequently danced on Sundays to the sound of the pipe and tabor as a form of relaxation after working all week.

At the table

Bread as the foundation of daily meals

Bread was the central element of the daily diet, often served as "soup" by soaking hard, stale slices in water, broth, or vegetable mixtures.

Getting around

Primary modes of travel were simple

Ordinary people primarily traveled by foot, on horseback, or via water, as roads were frequently unpaved and turned into mud during rain.

What it cost

Cost of pigs and wood in 17th century

In the 17th century, a single pig could cost approximately 24 livres, while a cart of wood was valued at 11 livres.