Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France was born in 1120 to King Louis VI and Adélaïde de Maurienne. He became king in 1137 at the age of 17, after his father's death. He inherited a stable kingdom with strong feudal ties but faced many challenges during his reign. One of the most significant struggles of his reign was his bitter divorce from Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152. This led him to oppose his former wife and support her second husband in the struggle for power in England, which ultimately brought about the Angevin Empire. Louis also faced challenges from the powerful House of Blois, who sought to undermine his authority. He was forced to fight against them on several occasions, but ultimately managed to keep them in check. In terms of foreign policy, Louis was involved in conflicts with the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of England. He also participated in the Second Crusade, which was ultimately a failure. In his later years, Louis became increasingly focused on religious matters and founded several religious institutions. He died in 1180 and was succeeded by his son, Philip II. Overall, Louis VII faced many challenges during his reign but managed to maintain stability and leave a lasting impact on French history.
