ouis XII (1462-1515), king of
France (1498-1515), son of Charles, duke of Orléans, born in
Blois. Louis was imprisoned from 1487 to 1490 for rebellion
against King Charles VIII of France. Louis was a popular king,
and his financial and judicial reforms and the mildness of his
rule earned him the epithet Father of the People. He led several
armies in Italy, where he pursued a policy of French
aggrandizement from 1499 until a coalition of powers compelled
his withdrawal in 1513. He was succeeded by his son-in-law,
Francis I. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]
Back