French Monarch. Born in Paris, France, the eldest son of Jeanne I of Navarre and Philippe IV of France. In 1305, he took the title of Louis I of Navarre upon his mother's death. That year, he married Margaret, daughter of Robert II, duke of Burgundy. They had a daughter, the future Jeanne II of Navarre. In 1314, Marguerite was charged with infidelity, was convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment. That same year, upon the death of Philippe IV, Louis ceded Navarre to his brother, Philippe V of France, and succeeded his father as the king of France. His coronation took place on 24 August 1315, in Reims. Almost immediately he declared that all serfs and slaves in France were to be freed, but that they would be required to buy their freedom. He also reversed his father's expulsion of Jews from France, understanding France would benefit economically if the Jews were allowed to come back. He issued a charter allowing the Jews return to France, provided they abided by certain conditions. That same year his wife mysteriously died in her prison, and he married, Clémence of Hungary. He restored the office of chancellor and then dismissed and imprisoned many of his father's unpopular ministers. He was known as an enthusiast of "jeu de paume," the forerunner of tennis, and was the first to build indoor courts. After a game in the summer of 1316, he reportedly drank chilled wine, and fell ill. Within days he succumbed to what is suspected to have been pleurisy, although, inevitably, poison was also suspected. His posthumous son, Jean I, born five months later, died himself at just five days old creating a succession crisis. He was eventually succeeded by his brother Philippe rather than his daughter, Jeanne, who as a female, it was decided, could not succeed to the throne, establishing a precedent maintained for the duration of the French monarchy. He was also known as Louis the Stubborn or Louis the Headstrong.

French Monarch. Born in Paris, France, the eldest son of Jeanne I of Navarre and Philippe IV of France. In 1305, he took the title of Louis I of Navarre upon his mother's death. That year, he married Margaret, daughter of Robert II, duke of Burgundy. They had a daughter, the future Jeanne II of Navarre. In 1314, Marguerite was charged with infidelity, was convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment. That same year, upon the death of Philippe IV, Louis ceded Navarre to his brother, Philippe V of France, and succeeded his father as the king of France. His coronation took place on 24 August 1315, in Reims. Almost immediately he declared that all serfs and slaves in France were to be freed, but that they would be required to buy their freedom. He also reversed his father's expulsion of Jews from France, understanding France would benefit economically if the Jews were allowed to come back. He issued a charter allowing the Jews return to France, provided they abided by certain conditions. That same year his wife mysteriously died in her prison, and he married, Clémence of Hungary. He restored the office of chancellor and then dismissed and imprisoned many of his father's unpopular ministers. He was known as an enthusiast of "jeu de paume," the forerunner of tennis, and was the first to build indoor courts. After a game in the summer of 1316, he reportedly drank chilled wine, and fell ill. Within days he succumbed to what is suspected to have been pleurisy, although, inevitably, poison was also suspected. His posthumous son, Jean I, born five months later, died himself at just five days old creating a succession crisis. He was eventually succeeded by his brother Philippe rather than his daughter, Jeanne, who as a female, it was decided, could not succeed to the throne, establishing a precedent maintained for the duration of the French monarchy. He was also known as Louis the Stubborn or Louis the Headstrong.

Bio by: Iola