Editing Louis VIII of France (section)

===Early years===
Born 5 September 1187, Louis was the son of King [[Philip II of France]] and [[Isabella of Hainault]].{{sfn|Bradbury|1997|p=177}} His mother died in 1190, but Louis was not formally invested as Count of Artois.{{sfn|Hanley|2016|p=39}} Instead, his father allowed him a nominal control over the county to learn about governance.{{sfn|Hanley|2016|p=39}} In summer 1195, a marriage between Louis and [[Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany|Eleanor of Brittany]], niece of King [[Richard I of England]], was suggested for an alliance between Philip II and Richard, but it failed.{{sfn|Hanley|2016|p=24}}

On 23 May 1200, Louis was married to [[Blanche of Castile]], daughter of King [[Alfonso VIII of Castile]] and [[Eleanor of England, Queen of Castile|Eleanor of England]].{{sfn|Baldwin|1991|p=364}} The marriage could only be concluded after prolonged negotiations between King Philip II of France and Blanche's uncle John, King of England.{{sfn|McDougall|2017|p=226}}