Louis XIII of France 1601 – 1643

Biography

Louis XIII came into the world on September 27, 1601, at the royal château of Fontainebleau, born into one of Europe’s most prominent dynasties. From 1610 until his death, he served as King of France and Navarre, a role that shaped the destiny of his nation during a pivotal era in European history. Throughout his reign, he carried the considerable weight of the crown and the expectations placed upon a monarch of his station.

On May 14, 1643, Louis XIII passed away at Saint-Germain-en-Laye at the age of forty-one, his life cut short by tuberculosis. Though his time on earth was relatively brief, his years as sovereign left an enduring mark on France and its people. Following royal tradition, he was laid to rest in the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Saint-Denis, France, joining the generations of French monarchs who came before him in that sacred burial place.