Editing Louis X of France (section)

==Domestic policy==
Louis was king of [[Navarre]] for eleven years and king of France for less than two years. His reign was dominated by continual feuding with the noble factions within the kingdom, and major reforms designed to increase royal revenues, such as the freeing of the French [[serfs]] and the readmittance of the Jews.

===Regional leagues===

By the end of Philip IV's reign opposition to the fiscal reforms was growing. With Philip's death and the accession of Louis, this opposition rapidly developed into more open revolt, some authors citing Louis' relative youth as one of the reasons behind the timing of the rebellions.<ref>Sellery, p.292.</ref> Leagues of regional nobles began to form around the country, demanding changes.<ref name="Wagner, p.203">Wagner, p.203.</ref> [[Charles of Valois]] took advantage of this movement to turn against his old enemy, Philip IV's former minister and [[Grand Chamberlain of France|chamberlain]] [[Enguerrand de Marigny]], and convinced Louis to bring corruption charges against him. When these failed, Charles then convinced Louis to bring [[Magic (paranormal)|sorcery]] charges against him instead, which proved more effective and led to de Marigny's execution at [[Vincennes]] in April 1315.<ref>Lea, p.451.</ref> Other former ministers were similarly prosecuted.<ref name="Clayton-Emmerson p.528">Emmerson and Clayton-Emmerson, p.528.</ref> This, combined with the halting of Philip's reforms, the issuing of numerous charters of rights<ref name="Clayton-Emmerson p.528"/> and a reversion to more traditional rule, largely assuaged the regional leagues.<ref name="Wagner, p.203"/>

===Edict freeing serfs===
In July 1315, Louis X issued an edict effectively abolishing serfdom in the royal domain.{{sfn|Brissaud|1915|p=317}} As a way of raising revenues, for his war against Flanders,{{sfn|Harding|2001|p=225}} and having alighted on a reform of French [[serfdom]] as a way of achieving this, he declared that French serfs would be freed, although each serf would have to purchase his freedom. A body of commissioners was established to undertake the reform, establishing the ''[[Status in Roman legal system|peculium]]'', or value, of each serf.{{sfn|Kézai|1999|p=lxxvii}} For serfs owned directly by the King, all of the ''peculium'' would be received by the Crown; for serfs owned by subjects of the King, the amount would be divided between the Crown and the owner.

=== Readmittance of Jews ===
[[File:Louis10 zidi.png|thumb|Louis receiving a diploma from the Jews, whom he readmitted to France under strict terms. Painting made in 14th century.]]
Louis was also responsible for a key shift in policy towards the Jews. In 1306, his father, Philip IV, had expelled the Jewish minority from across France, a "shattering" event for most of these communities.<ref name="Chazan, p.79">Chazan, p.79.</ref> Louis began to reconsider this policy, motivated by the additional revenues that might be forthcoming to the Crown if the Jews were allowed to return.<ref name="Chazan, p.79"/> Accordingly, Louis issued a charter in 1315, readmitting the Jews subject to various conditions.{{sfn|Chazan|1979|p=79}} The Jews would be admitted back into France for only twelve years, after which the agreement might be terminated; Jews were to wear an armband at all times; Jews could live only in those areas where there had been Jewish communities previously; Jews were initially to be forbidden from [[usury]].<ref>Chazan, pp79-80.</ref> This was the first time that French Jews had been covered by such a charter, and Louis was careful to justify his decision with reference to the policies of his ancestor [[Louis IX of France|Saint Louis IX]], the position of [[Pope Clement V]] and an argument that the people of France had demanded a return of the Jews.<ref name="Chazan, p.79"/> The result was a much-weakened Jewish community that depended directly upon the King for their right of abode and protection.<ref name="Chazan, p.79"/>

===Challenge of Flanders===
[[File:Louis X of France Flandre.jpg|thumb|right|Louis campaigning in [[County of Flanders|Flanders]], where he sought a military solution to the ongoing problem of the "immensely wealthy", quasi-autonomous province of France. Painting circa 15th century.]]

Louis X continued the effort of his predecessor to achieve a military solution to the vexing problem of [[County of Flanders|Flanders]]. The count of Flanders ruled an "immensely wealthy state"<ref name="Holmes, p.16">Holmes, p.16.</ref> which enjoyed a largely autonomous existence on the margins of the French realm; French kings claimed to exercise [[suzerainty]] over Flanders, but heretofore with little success.<ref name="Holmes, p.16"/> Philip IV had attempted to assert royal overlordship, but his army, led by [[Robert II of Artois]], had been defeated at [[Battle of the Golden Spurs|Courtrai]] in 1302;<ref name="Holmes, p.16"/> despite a later French victory at the [[Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle]] the relationship remained testy and unsettled.

Louis mobilised an army along the Flemish border, but the French position rapidly became strained by the demands of maintaining a wartime footing. Louis had prohibited exports of grain and other material to Flanders in 1315. This proved challenging to enforce, and the king had to pressure officers of the Church in the borderlands,<ref>Jordan, pp151-2.</ref> as well as [[Edward II of England]], to support his effort to prevent Spanish merchant vessels from trading with the embargoed Flemish.<ref>Kulsrud, p.212.</ref> An unintended result of the embargo was the rise of smuggling activities that reduced the advantage (and consequently the amount) of trading in compliance with royal restrictions in the border region. Louis was also forced to requisition food directly for his forces, resulting in a series of complaints from local lords and the Church.<ref>Jordan, pp.169–170.</ref>