1270: The cathedral in New Orleans’s Jackson Square may be one of the most photographed buildings in America, but few tourists know the church is named for a king of France, Louis IX, who—rather amazingly, for a king—is also considered a Christian saint.
In theory, everyone in medieval Europe was a Christian by virtue of baptism. In practice, people behaved badly and kings worse than most since their power gave them ample opportunity for sinning. Louis IX of France was an exception. He became king at the age of twelve became king at the age of twelve in 1226, but for many years the government and the moulding of Louis’s character were in the hands of his remarkable mother, a strong and very devout woman who instilled in him the belief that he was accountable to God for his own soul and for his nation’s welfare. Louis reigned with justice and tried to protect the poor from the greedy nobles of France. Not trusting royal officials to do their jobs right, he had a network of “investigators” to monitor their activity. Most kings would sign a treaty and then break it without troubling their consciences, but Louis was a man of his word.
Louis fought in the Crusades, the wars to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims. For many rulers, the Crusades were mostly a matter of public relations: a ruler would go to Palestine, fight in a few battles, and (if he survived) return home to be proclaimed as a warrior for the Lord. Louis was different: he really did want to recover the Holy Land for the Christians. He spent four years in Palestine, building up defences and organizing the government. Louis died on August 25, 1270, while on Crusade.
America’s federal government thought highly of Louis, for statues of him (honouring him as a law-giver) are found in the Supreme Court building and the House of Representatives
No comments:
Post a Comment