LOUIS IX., or Sit-NT Louts, King of France, b. in Poissy, April 25,1215, succeeded his father, Louis VIII., in 1226. His mother, Blanche of Castile, a woman of great talent and sincere piety, was regent during his minority, and bestowed on him a strictly religious education, which materially influenced his character and policy. When Louis attained his majority he became involved iu a war with Henry III. of England, and defeated the English at Taillebourg, at Salutes, and at Blaye in 1242. During a dan gerous illness he made a vow that if he recovered he would go in person as a crusader, and, accordingly, having appointed his mother regent, he sailed in Aug., 1.2A8, with 40,000 men to Cyprus, whence, in the following spring, he proceeded to Egypt, think ing, by the conquest of that country, to open the way to Palestine. He took Damietta, but was afterwards defeated and taken prisoner by the Mohammedans. A ransom of 100,000 marks of silver procured his release on 3fay 7, 1250, with the relics (6,000 men) of his army. He proceeded by sea to Acre, and remained in Palestine till the death of
his mother (Nov., 1252) compelled him to return to France. He now applied himself earnestly to the affairs of his kingdom, united certain provinces to the crown on the lapse of feudal rights or by treaty, and made many important changes, the general ten dency of which was to increase the royal power. A code of laws was brought into use, known as the Etabliesernenta de St. Louis. Louis embarked on a new crusade July 1, 1270, and proceeded to Tunis; but a pestilence breaking out in the French camp, carried off the greater part of the army and the king himself. He died Aug. 25,1270; and his son, Philip III., was glad to make peace and return to France. Pope Boniface VIII. canonized him in 1297. For an interesting picture of the religious side of Louis's char acter, consult Neander's Ifirclwngeschichte. Bohn, vol. vii., pp. 416-18.