Louis XIII

Louis XIII became king of France in 1610 when his father, King Henry IV, was assassinated. Louis's mother, Marie de Medicis, ruled on his behalf until 1617. From 1624 to 1642, Louis ruled with the help of his chief prime minister, Cardinal Richelieu. The two men increased royal authority by curbing the rebelliousness of France's provinces and of the country's nobles and peasants. They also stripped the Huguenots (French Protestants) of their military power.

In 1635, Louis declared war on Spain, leading France into the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) against the royal Habsburg (or Hapsburg) family of Spain and Austria. He died in 1643 before the war ended and was succeeded by his son Louis XIV.

Louis XIII was born in Fontainebleau, France, in 1601. He belonged to the Bourbon family of rulers.