Louis XIX (Reign of Kings)

**Louis XX of France** (5 September 1879-28 February 1934) was King of France from 1879 to 1934. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Louis XVIII, had died the previous year. Louis's mother, Marie Isabelle of Spain, served as regent until he assumed full powers on his sixteenth birthday in 1894. He ruled during an eventful period in the history of France, which included the period of World War I (1914–1918), when 30 percent of France was overrun, occupied, and ruled by the German Empire.

## Early Life

### Birth and Regency

Louis XIX was born on 5 September 1879 in the Bourbon Palace. He was the posthumous son of Louis XVIII of France, who had died in November 1871, and became King of France upon his birth. Just after he was born, he was carried naked to the French prime minister Émile Ollivier on a silver tray. He was baptised in the Palace Chapel on 11 September. His godparents were Queen Victoria, Queen Maria Isabella, the Princess of Wales, and Prince of Wales, and the Prince of Asturias.

His mother, Marie Isabelle of Spain, served as his regent until his 13th birthday. For security reasons, the new King and his family relocated their primary residence to the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye outside the city, only entering the capital for various ceremonial functions. During the regency, France lost its colonial rule over Saint Lucia, and Domicia to Great Britain. And over a year the crown lost control of Haiti and Tortuga as a result of the second haitian revolution.

## Reign as an adult

### Coronation

When he came of age in May 1894, the week of his majority was marked by festivities, Parties, balls and receptions throughout France. On 25 June, Louis was crowned King at the Cathedral of Reims. During the autumn after the coronation, he took his oath to the constitution before members of Parliament.

### Engagement and marriage

One of the first priorities of Louis was to find a bride for the King, to assure the continuity of the monarchy, and especially to prevent the succession to the throne of the Orléans branch of the family, the rivals of his branch. In the end to cement a peace with the German Empire, he married Margaret of Prussia, the daughter of Emperor Frederick III and Empress Victoria (Queen Victoria's eldest daughter). This marriage suited Queen Victoria, who wanted one of her descendants to marry into the French Royal Family. Margaret was willing to change her religion, and her being a haemophilia carrier was only a possibility.

In May, diplomats of both kingdoms officially executed the agreement of marriage. Louis and Margaret were married at Notre Dame on 31 May 1895, with British royalty in attendance, including Victoria's cousins the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George V and Queen Mary). Between 1895 and 1904, she gave the king five, four girls and one boy. The birth of a long-awaited heir, which ensured the survival of the dynasty for the first time since 1818, was welcomed with celebration in all spheres of French society. Margaret was in fact a haemophilia carrier, and their only son Louis Frederick inherited the condition. Neither of the four daughters born to the King and Queen were haemophilia carriers. Louis distanced himself from his wife for transmitting the condition to their only son. The queen was pious and timid, and spent most of her time secluded with her own courtiers.