Louis VII of France

Louis VII (1120 – 18 September 1180), called the Younger or the Young (French: le Jeune) to differentiate him from his father Louis VI, was King of France from 1137 to 1180. His first marriage was to Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in western Europe. Eleanor came with the vast Duchy of Aquitaine as a dowry for Louis, thus temporarily extending the Capetian lands to the Pyrenees, but their marriage was annulled in 1152 after no male heir was produced. His second marriage to Constance of Castile also produced two daughters, but his third wife, Adela of Champagne, gave birth to a son, Philip Augustus, in 1165. Louis died in 1180 and was succeeded by his son, Philip II.

Quotes

• Rex Angliæ modo in Hybernia, modo in Anglia, modo in Normannia, volare potius judicandus est quam vel equum vel navem conscendere.
  • On his enemy, Henry II. Reported in Ralph de Diceto, Ymagines Historiarum, s.a. 1172 (ed. Stubbs, R.S.) vol. 1 (1876) p. 351
    • This King, now in Ireland, now in England, now in Normandy, must fly, rather than ride or sail.
      • G. P. R. James, A History of the Life of Richard Cœur-de-Lion, King of England, vol. 1 (London: Saunders and Otley, 1841) p. 392
    • The King of England, is now in Ireland, now in England, now in Normandy; he may rather be said to fly than go by horse or boat!
      • Anonymous, Henry the Second, Twelve English Statesmen (London: Macmillan & Co. [1888] 1926) ch. 9, p. 171
    • Now in Ireland, now in England, now in Normandy, he must fly rather than travel by horse or ship.
      • A. L. Poole, From 'Domesday Book' to 'Magna Carta' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, [1951] 1958) ch. 10, p. 318
    • Now in Ireland, now in England, now in Normandy, he must fly rather than go by horse or ship.
      • Stephen Usherwood, Reign by Reign (London: Michael Joseph, [1960] 1962) p. 18