A summary, courtesy of John Shemyakin and your faithful servant, of the character of Louis XIII, as depicted in Emile Mann's book, about everyday life in his time. As everyone knows, Louis XIII was removed by his wife, his relatives, Spain, Austria, England and Holland. His younger brother, Gaston, used to amuse himself by robbing passers-by on the “New Bridge”. The king himself was subject to epileptic fits, chronic inflammations of the small intestine and tuberculosis of the skin. Louis stuttered, his handwriting was like that of a child, he was weak, sloppy, jealous, introverted, withdrawn, suspicious and greedy. The king dressed like a homeless person, abhorred the nobility and preferred to bring servants from among the common people, “so that he could beat them”. He was gluttonous and could hardly read. His country was in disarray, and he did not like the affairs of government – although he made sure to sit in on the meetings of the King’s Council, he preferred to serve as an arbitrator between his statesmen, ultimately leaving the governance to Cardinal Richelieu. According to his own testimony, he liked to be bored.
At the same time, get 35 things you didn't know about Louis XIII.
1. He loved to shave others, and once shaved all of his guards officers with his own hands, leaving “only tiny islands of hair” on their chins, which naturally became fashionable.
2. Played tennis.
3. He was a top-notch rider and even set several records.
4. Was able to walk up to 28 kilometers a day.
5. He was a famous hunter, who would search through dens, set traps, and leap with a dagger at deer and wolves.
6. Learned to swim at age 23.
7. Knowledge of cooking.
8. He drove a carriage drawn by six horses. In 1635, this virtue saved his life when the carriage he was driving was struck by lightning and burned the royal coachman who was resting inside the carriage at the time.
9. He was a great ornithologist and scientist in the field. Perhaps the leading expert in Europe on falconry.
10. He used to tame monkeys, sew clothes for his favorite monkeys, according to the season and current fashion.
11. Considered one of the two leading experts in France in the field of weapons.
12. Used to repair and assemble various mechanical mechanisms.
13. He was a professional blacksmith.
14. Bake bread.
15. Cast small cannons.
16. He worked as a locksmith.
17. Minting coins.
18. Sling basket.
19. Weaving webs.
20. Nailing the carpets in the Louvre with nails of his own making.
21. He tended the garden and harvested the first crops of peas, which he used to sell.
22. On the road, in cases of breakdowns in the carriage, Louis would take an axe, “taken into his hands the necessary tools and did everything that was required for the repair. He cut down trees, sawed them properly, and replaced wheels, axles, and pins.”
23. Installed and glazed the windows in the Louvre.
24. Preserved meat.
25. Build a firework display.
26. Cooked jam.
27. He was a master at composing perfumes.
28. Play the harp.
29. He was a painter and printer.
30. He became famous as a gifted composer.
31. Directed ballet performances.
32. He danced in them. Both in heroic roles, – in “The Love of Renaud and Armida,” for example, he portrayed the demon of fire, – as well as in comic roles, – as robbers, adventurers, Spaniards and greenhorns.
33. In 1633, he held his first fashion show, in which participants marched to the music “suitable for their attire.”
34. His most famous work is “The Ballet of Marlezon.” The music, the plot, the costumes, the choreography – everything is his. He himself danced in this ballet on only two occasions: once as a bait dealer, and another time – as a peasant.
35. He composed poetry for all of his mistresses (meaning the two who served him as apprentices – de Hautfort and de Lafayette).
Considered a snob and a mediocre personality, and after his death he became a target for ridicule and slander – some of this we sometimes see on television, in various “musketeers.” History is a fair lady, I always say.
Want to know more about Louis XIII? You are invited to read this article about In his difficult childhood.