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| King Louis XIII |
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| Born 1601 Died 1643 King of France 1610-1643 |
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King Louis XIII succeeded his father, Henry IV, under the regency of his mother, Marie de' Medici. He married Anne of Austria in 1615. Even after being declared of age in 1614, he was excluded from affairs of state by his domineering mother. In 1617 he caused the assassination of her minister Concino Concini, with the aid of his own favourite, Charles d' Albert, Duc de Luynes, and Marie de' Medici was forced into retirement. Louis was reconciled to her in 1622 and entrusted the government to her protégé, Cardinal Richelieu. In 1630, urged by his mother to discharge Richelieu, he instead sent his mother again into exile. Melancholy and retiring by nature, Louis thenceforth gave full support to Richelieu and his successor, Cardinal Mazarin. Richelieu strengthened royal authority and centralized government control. |
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