My Life so Far

I, Louis XI was born on July 3, 1423. It was a beautiful day in  Bourges, Cher, my birthplace. My father, Charles VII was a weakling and i despised him since childhood. Then in 1436, a marriage was thrust upon me with Margaret of Scotland. I wed her dutifully for the position of greatness that would follow. We did not spend much time together as she was always with her studies and I, with my father, learning the ways of the king. At a ripe age of 13, I was named Dauphin by my father. My marriage showed the very nature of the position of the French monarchy and the Scottish were dismayed by the whole ceremony. The ceremony was plain and short but I guess it was for the better, for Margaret and I weren't in love anyways. In 1440 I wanted to overthrow my dad and become the Regent. We named this uprising as the Praguerie.  Charles de Bourbon had me highly influenced but his army was weak, forcing us to retreat. The Praguerie had failed and I was forced to comply with the King. I began to continue fighting in many wars as in the one of my army against the Swiss, at the Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs. My army did not succeed under the great strength of the military might yet that was not my biggest worry. On September 27, 1446, I was summoned to my own place called Dauphine by my loathsome father. In Dauphine, I continued scheming against the King and in the year of 1451, I married Charlotte of Savoy, without my father's consent. Having had enough of me, Charles sent his army to my province. I fled to Burgundy and was accepted into refuge by Duke Philip the Good in Genappe. My dad was furious when Philip continued protecting me and warned him of my troubles. Yet, I was still under the care of the great Duke. In 1461, I learned of my father's illness and hurried back to Reims before my unfit brother could be crowned king. I was finally king, having gotten rid of my father and having control over my brother. Being crowned king had changed me though. I started to pursue limiting the powers of the royals of France, like my father had. I contained the conspirators who had acted with me and became prudent, when before I had been lavish. Now, I even commingle with poorly peasants and merchants. The one thing that hasn't changed are my great schemes and plots though now I am developing an ample interest in astrology and science. My wife and I have many children who I believe are to be very successful but the happiness is slightly tainted whenever I see the scum, Charles the Bold. Other than that, my life has been full of success, including my victory over England in the Hundred Years War. I can honestly say that right now, my life is satisfying and enjoyable.


resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XI_of_France