ouis VIII (1187-1226), king of France (1223-26), son and successor of Philip II (Philip Augustus), born in Paris. Before his succession he assisted his father in several campaigns to win control of French territories belonging to John, the Angevin, or Plantagenet, king of England. Philip II previously had conspired with John against John's brother, King Richard I of England, but later turned against him. In 1215 Louis was offered the crown of England by a group of barons in rebellion against King John; Louis led an expedition to England but was unsuccessful in claiming the throne; John died in the midst of the struggle and was succeeded by his son Henry III. The French invaders were excommunicated by the papal legate in England and were defeated in battle at Lincoln. Louis returned to France in 1217 and there took part in crusades against a dissident religious sect called the Albigenses, or Cathars. After succeeding his father as king, Louis continued Philip's policy of destroying the power of the Plantagenets in France and bringing under royal authority the provinces held by the Albigenses in the south of France. He was succeeded by his son Louis IX. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]

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