King Louis VI of France was indeed very fat, but his obesity did not stop him from fighting in wars. Louis VI started his reign as a tall, handsome, and strong young man who enjoyed physical activities, particularly hunting. However, his body underwent a dramatic transformation over the course of his reign, and by the age of 46, he was so obese that he could not even mount a horse.
Despite his increasing corpulence, Louis VI remained an active warrior-king throughout his 29-year reign. Unlike many monarchs who directed battles from afar, Louis was known for leading his troops into battle personally, often at great risk to himself. Louis VI’s determination to fight, even when his body made it difficult, earned him the nickname “the Fighter” alongside “the Fat”.
Early Life and Ascension to the Throne
Born on December 1, 1081, in Paris, Louis was the son of King Philip I and Bertha of Holland. As a young prince, Louis demonstrated his military prowess and leadership skills, which would become hallmarks of his reign. In 1098, at the age of 17, Louis was knighted and began to take on more responsibilities in the government.
Louis’s path to the throne was not without challenges. His father’s controversial second marriage to Bertrada de Montfort, which had resulted in excommunication, created tension within the royal family. Despite this, Louis managed to secure his position as heir apparent and was associated with his father in governing the kingdom from 1100 to 1108.
On July 29, 1108, Louis VI ascended to the throne following the death of his father. His coronation, however, was marked by conflict. Unlike his predecessors, Louis was crowned in Orléans rather than Reims due to a dispute with the archbishop. Moreover, he had to fight his way to the coronation against his half-brother Philippe, who attempted to bar his path.
The Warrior King
One of Louis’s primary challenges was subduing the rebellious nobles within his own domain. The Île-de-France, the area directly under royal control, was plagued by lawless knights and petty lords who defied royal authority. Louis spent much of his reign fighting these “robber barons,” often resorting to force to bring them to justice.
One of these campaigns was against his half-brother Philip, son of Bertrade de Montfort, in 1109. Philip had engaged in brigandry and conspiracies against the king, allying himself with the lords of Montfort-l’Amaury. This conflict was particularly significant as the Montfort castles formed a barrier between Louis and large portions of his domain, threatening communication south of Paris.
King Louis’ tactics in this and other campaigns were brutal as exemplified in his response to the killing of one of his vassals at La Roche-Guyon. Louis VI’s retribution was severe: the perpetrators and residents of the town were mutilated, disembowelled, and thrown from the tower onto upturned lances. The leader’s heart was cut out and placed on a stake, and even children were not spared from the violence.
Hugh III du Puiset
Another of these robber barons, Hugh III du Puiset, had a particularly long-running and highly antagonistic relationship with King Louis VI, characterized by regularly plundering neighboring lands and defying royal authority.
The conflict between Hugh and Louis VI escalated in 1111 when Hugh invaded Chartres. After failing to subdue Hugh, Count Thibaut IV of Blois appealed to King Louis VI for intervention. The king summoned Hugh to court, but Hugh ignored the summons, leading Louis VI to declare war against him.
Louis VI besieged Le Puiset, Hugh’s fortress, and after it fell Hugh was captured and imprisoned. Despite swearing an oath of obedience, Hugh immediately broke his word upon release, rebuilding his castle and resuming his plundering activities. This pattern of conflict continued for several years.
In 1118, Louis VI attacked Le Puiset for the third and final time, resulting in Hugh’s imprisonment once again. During this siege, Hugh had killed Louis’ s great-uncle Anseau of Garlande, further enraging the king. VI not only disinherited Hugh but also ordered the complete destruction of his castle, including filling in the ditches and wells. Incredibly, King Louis let Hugh live, although he had to leave France for the Holy Land, where he died in 1132.
The king’s eventual success in subduing Hugh and other rebellious nobles was crucial in establishing greater royal control over the French kingdom.
Campaigns Against External Threats
While much of Louis VI’s military efforts were focused on internal threats, he also faced significant external challenges, particularly from England and the Holy Roman Empire.
Conflict with England
Louis VI’s reign was marked by ongoing conflict with King Henry I of England, who was also Duke of Normandy. The two monarchs fought intermittently throughout their reigns, starting early in Louis’s reign when Henry I seized the castle at Gisors along the Norman border. Louis responded by calling up his vassals and attacking the castle. The conflict ended in a stalemate, with Henry agreeing to demolish the stronghold—a promise he never kept.
On August 20, 1119, Louis VI’s forces encountered the Anglo-Norman army at the Battle of Brémule. Despite advice from scouts on both sides to avoid battle, the two stubborn monarchs pressed forward. Louis VI opened the battle with a cavalry charge, which the Norman forces absorbed. A second charge by Louis VI was also repelled. In the ensuing combat, the Anglo-Normans beat back the French forces.
This defeat was a humiliating blow to Louis VI, securing Henry I’s northern border and re-establishing him as the most powerful lord in Northern France. Despite this setback, Louis VI continued to resist English domination in France, a struggle that would persist beyond his reign.
The Threat from the East
In 1124, the Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich V raised an army and marched towards Reims, posing a direct threat to the French kingdom. This aggressive move by the Emperor was a serious challenge to Louis VI’s authority and the sovereignty of France.
Upon learning of the impending invasion, Louis VI took swift action. He sent out a call throughout his kingdom, summoning his vassals to render their services and defend the country from foreign invasion. This call to arms was a crucial test of Louis VI’s power and influence as the King of France.
The Response
The response to Louis VI’s call was remarkable. Forces from many parts of France rallied to the king’s banner. This widespread support demonstrated the growing strength of the Capetian monarchy under Louis VI’s rule. It was a far cry from the weakness of his predecessors, who had often struggled to exert authority beyond their immediate domains.
With his army assembled, Louis VI led the French forces north to confront the German invaders. The king himself took on a symbolic role in this campaign, identifying himself as the vassal of St. Denis, the patron saint of France. Louis VI carried St. Denis’s banner as he marched, linking the defense of the realm to divine protection and national identity.
As the French army approached, they encountered the German forces before they could reach Reims. Both sides prepared for battle, with tension mounting as two of the most powerful rulers in Western Europe faced each other.
A Bloodless Victory
However, when Heinrich V saw the size of the French army, he made a surprising decision. Instead of engaging in battle, the Emperor chose to retreat. This bloodless standoff became a pivotal moment in French history.
Although no battle was fought, the confrontation between Louis VI and Heinrich V was a massively important symbolic event in the history of Western Europe. It marked a turning point for the French monarchy. The Capetian dynasty had long been seen as weak kings, little more than powerful northern lords. By successfully mustering forces from across the country to match the Holy Roman Emperor’s army, Louis VI demonstrated that he was a king to be reckoned with.
The widespread response to Louis VI’s call to arms showed a growing sense of national identity and unity under the French crown. While successfully facing off against the Holy Roman Emperor, considered one of the most powerful rulers in Europe, greatly enhanced France’s and Louis VI’s prestige on the international stage. This event signaled a shift in the balance of power in Western Europe. France was emerging as a strong, centralized kingdom.
Administrative Reforms and Centralization of Power
While Louis VI is often remembered for his military exploits, his administrative reforms were equally significant. He made substantial progress in centralizing the institutions of royal power, a process that had been initiated by his father, Philip I.
Louis VI took an active role in administering justice, personally overseeing cases of homicide, treason, theft, and rape. He also dealt with matters of forgery, usury, and crimes that impacted royal income. This hands-on approach to governance helped to impress the power of the crown upon the people and increased direct revenue to the royal coffers.
One of Louis’s most significant contributions was the issuance of ordinances (royal decrees) that applied to the entire Kingdom of France. This was a crucial step towards establishing a unified legal framework across the realm.
Support for Communes and the Church
Under Louis VI’s rule, France experienced significant economic and cultural growth. The king’s efforts to secure trade routes and establish order in the royal domain led to increased commerce. Paris, in particular, thrived as a hub of trade, with Louis overseeing the construction of new bridges and markets in the city.
Louis VI also encouraged the growth of a merchant class in cities, seeing them as a potential ally against the rebellious feudal nobility. He granted privileges to merchants in exchange for financial support, contributing to the development of a more diverse and dynamic urban economy.
The king also maintained a strong relationship with the Church, in contrast to his father who had been excommunicated. Louis VI patronized monasteries and churches, supported schools in Paris, and offered sanctuary to popes during their conflicts with the Holy Roman Empire. This alliance with the Church provided Louis with crucial support and legitimacy.
The Later Years and Legacy
As Louis VI aged, his legendary girth began to impede his ability to lead troops in the field, earning him the nickname “the Fat.” However, this did not diminish his effectiveness as a ruler. Even in his later years, he remained active in governance and military affairs.
The legacy of Louis VI is significant in French history. He is often regarded as one of France’s greatest kings as his reign marked a turning point in the consolidation of royal power and the development of France as a centralized state. During his reign, the idea of France as a unified entity began to take shape.
