Louis XII of France
Louis XII (1462 – 1515), born Louis d'Orléans and often known as the "Father of the People", was the King of France from 1498 until his death, and the sole monarch from the Valois-Orléans branch of the House of Valois. During his reign, Louis pursued an active foreign policy, making repeated attempts to place two Italian states—the Duchy of Milan and the Kingdom of Naples—under French control.[1]
Biography[edit | edit source]
Once Rodrigo Borgia became Pope Alexander VI and gained control over the Papal states, the Borgia family allied themselves with Louis to ensure the support of the French army, as well as the loyalty of the French Templar Octavian de Valois.[2]
During Louis' military conquests, he was drawn away from his throne and ruled France from afar. While fighting for the rule of Naples with King Ferdinand II of Aragon, his foreign ministers ruled in his stead. These ministers were Templars loyal to the Borgia, though some of them were eventually killed by Assassin recruits sent by the Italian Assassin Ezio Auditore.[3][4] Louis and his conquest of Milan were mentioned by heralds throughout Rome, who claimed that the king refused to enter Milan and would continue confiscating the city's wine until their food is "improved to Francese standards".[5]
Even after the fall of the Borgia, the Templars continued to exercise their influence on King Louis. Around 1512, his Templar advisors persuaded Louis that the Assassins were behind Marseille's threats of secession from France; as such, he ordered all Assassins banished from the city. Without resorting to violence, the Assassins stopped his army's efforts,[6] recruited disgruntled soldiers,[7] and dispatched the traitorous advisors.[8]
Intending to curb the Venetian influence in northern Italy, Louis joined the League of Cambrai created by Pope Julius II, which served as an anti-Venetian alliance that also included the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I and Ferdinand II. The League was initially a success, but the friction between Julius and Louis caused it to collapse by 1510.[9]
Louis died on New Year's Day 1515 and was succeeded by his cousin and son-in-law, Francis I.[1]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Identity (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Louis XII on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Gatekeeper
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy – Contracts: "Destructive Criticism"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood – Contracts: "Destructive Criticism"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Mediterranean Defense: "By Any Other Name, Part I"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Mediterranean Defense: "By Any Other Name, Part II"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Mediterranean Defense: "By Any Other Name, Part III"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Identity – Database: War of the League of Cambrai