Editing Louis VIII of France (section)

==King Louis VIII==
[[File:Sacre Louis8 France 01.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Louis VIII and [[Blanche of Castile]] at [[Reims]] in 1223, [[Miniature (illuminated manuscript)|miniature]] from the ''[[Grandes Chroniques de France]]'', {{Circa|1332}}–1350 ([[Bibliothèque nationale de France|Bibliothèque nationale]])]]

Louis succeeded his father on 14 July 1223; his coronation took place on 6 August of the same year in the [[Reims Cathedral|cathedral]] at [[Reims]]. [[Amaury de Montfort (died 1241)|Amalric of Montfort]] traded Louis his claim on the county of Toulouse in return for becoming constable of the kingdom.{{sfn|Léglu|Rist|Taylor|2014|p=14}} As King, he refused to renew the truce with [[Kingdom of England|England]] on 5 May 1224.{{sfn|Carpenter|2020|pp=29{{mdash}}30}} Instead Louis attacked the possession of the [[House of Plantagenet|Angevins]], invading Gascony,{{sfn|Carpenter|2020|p=30}} seizing [[Poitou]] (in 1224),{{sfn|William of Puylaurens|2003|p=103}} [[La Rochelle]] (August 1224),{{sfn|Carpenter|2020|p=30}} and [[County of Saintonge|Saintonge]].{{sfn|Richard|1992|p=23}} To accomplish this task, he treated with [[Hugh X of Lusignan]], promising him the city of [[Bordeaux]] if Gascony were conquered.{{sfn|Carpenter|2020|p=30}} By the end of summer 1224, Louis had conquered Limousin, Perigord, and [[Quercy]].{{sfn|Jordan|1999|p=282}}

Louis's campaign in 1226 captured numerous cities in Languedoc.{{sfn|Richard|1992|p=23}} By 1226, Louis' lack of military support in Gascony had embittered Hugh X of Lusignan.{{sfn|Carpenter|2020|p=43}}

===Policy on Jews===
On 1 November 1223, Louis issued an ordinance that prohibited his officials from recording debts owed to [[History of the Jews in France|Jews]], thus reversing the policies set by his father Philip II Augustus.{{sfn|Rist|2016|p=154}} This removed any type of assistance for the Jews from the king or barons.{{sfn|Rist|2016|p=154}} Further, Christians would be required to repay only the principal of any loans owed to Jews.{{sfn|Farmer|2017|p=141}} This principal would be paid to the king or other lords who had direct authority over the Jews.{{sfn|Farmer|2017|p=141}} This caused such a major financial impact on Jewish moneylenders, that in 1225 Louis invited Lombard moneylenders to Paris.{{sfn|Farmer|2017|p=141}} 

===Albigensian crusade as King===
[[File:Louis VIII Marmande.jpg|thumb|Capture of Marmande by the future Louis VIII during the Albigensian Crusade in 1219. Manuscript by [[William of Tudela]] and anonymous continuator, [[Song of the Albigensian Crusade]], ink drawing, France, 13th century.]]
In 1223, Louis received a letter from Pope Honorius III, entreating him to move against the Albigensians. In early 1226, following the excommunication of [[Raymond VII of Toulouse]] at the Council of Bourges and the promise of a tenth of clerical incomes towards the next crusade, Louis took the cross, stating his intention to crusade against the Albigensians.{{sfn|Barber|2014|p=139}} 

In May 1226, Louis assembled his army at [[Bourges, France|Bourges]] and moving quickly captured the towns of Béziers, Carcassonne, Beaucaire, and Marseille.{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=130}}{{sfn|Barber|2014|p=140}} However, [[Avignon]] resisted, refusing to open its gates to the French troops.{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=131}} Not wanting to storm the city, Louis settled in for a siege. A frontal assault that August was fiercely beaten back.{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=133}} On 9 September 1226, the town surrendered, agreeing to pay 6,000 marks, handing over hostages, and destroying its walls.{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=134}} However, Louis' army took heavy losses besieging Avignon.{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=135}} Finally arriving at Toulouse in October 1226, it was apparent his army was too tired and too weak to attack.{{efn|Barber states Louis' decision to not attack Toulouse may have been due to ill health.{{sfn|Barber|2014|p=140}}}}{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=135}} Louis chose to return to Paris with the plan to attack Raymond VII of Toulouse next season.{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=135}}

===Death===
While returning to Paris, Louis became ill with [[dysentery]] and died on 8 November 1226 in the [[Château de Montpensier]], Auvergne.{{sfn|Strayer|1992|p=135}} His disposition, dated June 1225, instructed that his son Louis would succeed him as King, while younger sons were given [[apanage]]s.{{sfn|Jordan|1999|p=282}} Robert received Artois, John Tristan acquired Maine and Anjou, and Alphonse gained Poitou and Auvergne.{{sfn|Jordan|1999|pp=282{{mdash}}283}}

The [[Saint Denis Basilica]], just to the north of Paris, houses the tomb of Louis VIII.{{sfn|Kelly|2017|p=166}} His young son, [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]] (born 1214, reigned 1226–70), succeeded him as king of France.{{sfn|Léglu|Rist|Taylor|2014|p=14}}