LOUIS XI., son of Charles VII., succeeded his father in 1461, being then thirty-nine years of age. He had early exhibited a duplicity of disposition, for which his father mistrusted him. He had revolted against his father in 1456, and being defeated, had taken refuge at the court of Philip, duke of Burgundy, who protected him and maintained him for six years, until his father's death. Louis, when king, became the bitterest enemy of Charles, the son of Philip. The cautious cun ning and consummate hypocrisy of Louis gave him the advantage over the rash courage and headlong passion of Charles, which at last caused his ruin and death at the siege of Nanci, in January 1477. Louis was successful in depressing the power of the feudal nobles, several of whom he put to death, aud in rendering the authority of the crown independent of them. He took into his service a body of Swiss, and kept also 10,000 French infantry, whom lie paid out of his own treasury. Ile carried on a war against Maximilian of Austria, who had married Mary of Burgundy, daughter and heiress of Duke Charles, and took from him Artois and Franche-Comt6; but at last ycace was made between them by the treaty of Arras, in 1482. Louis
also made peace with Edward IV. of England. Charles of Anjou, count of Provence, bequeathed that province to Louis XI., as well as his claims to the thrones of Naples and Sicily—a bequest which lel to the subsequent attempts of the French to conquer Naples. Louis XI. died in 1483, being sixty years of ago. He wee a strange compound of daring and superstition, of abilities and weakness, of firmness and perseverance in hie political views, joined to an abject meanness of sentiment and habit. The taille, or direct taxation, was tripled under his reign. He was the first who assumed the title of Most Christian King,' which was given to him by the pope in 1469. The best account of Louis XI. is given by his contemporary and confidant Comines, in his ' M6moires.'