Louis VIII (1187 - 1226), a member of the Capetian dynasty, was King of France from 1223 to 1226. He was born September 5, 1187, in Paris, France, the son of King Philippe II Auguste and Isabelle de Hainaut.

Prince Louis was victorious in the battles against the armies of King John of England. In 1216 the English barons rebelled against the very unpopular King John and offered the throne to Louis. In May of 1216, Prince Louis of France and his army invaded England, but after a year and a half of war, Louis was forced to give up on his desire to become the King of England and signed the Treaty of Lambeth.

Louis succeeded his father on July 14, 1223 and was crowned king on August 6 of the same year in the cathedral at Reims. As king, he was still seeking redemption from the Angevins and seized Poitou and Saintonge from them in 1224. This was followed by the seizure of Avignon and Languedoc.

While returning to Paris, King Louis was stricken with dysentery, and died on November 8, 1226 in the chateau at Montpensier, Auvergne.

King Louis VIII was interred at Saint Denis Basilica. He was succeeded by his son, Louis IX.

Marriage On May 23, 1200, at the age of twelve, he was married to Blanche of Castile (March 4, 1188 - November 26, 1252).

Issue:

  1. Philippe - (September 9, 1209 - 1218)
  2. Louis IX - (April 25, 1214 - August 25, 1270)
  3. Robert - (September 25, 1216 - February 9, 1250)
  4. Jean - (July 21, 1219 - 1232)
  5. Alphonse of Toulouse - (November 11, 1220 - August 21, 1271)
  6. Philippe Dagobert - (February 20, 1222 - 1232)
  7. Isabelle - (June 1225 - February 23, 1269)
  8. Etienne - (born and died 1226)
  9. Charles I of Sicily - (March 1227 - January 7, 1285)

Preceded by:
Philip II 		List of French monarchs Succeeded by:
Louis IX