# King Lewis XI — Henry VI, Part III character guide

> King Lewis XI in Henry VI, Part III by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lewis, King Lewis, noble Lewis

**First appearance:** 0016-act-iii-scene-iii

## Snapshot

The shrewd French monarch whose favor both Warwick and Margaret court, and whose decision to back Lancaster reshapes the war.

## Who they are

King Lewis sits at the fulcrum of European diplomacy, weighing Warwick's embassy for an English alliance against Margaret's warnings that Edward is a usurper. When news arrives that Edward has married Lady Grey instead of Lewis's sister Bona, the French king's injured pride turns him decisively toward Lancaster. His soldiers and ships will carry Warwick and Margaret back to England, making him the foreign power that reopens the civil war.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Mentioned by Henry as the French king whom Warwick and Margaret are both trying to influence.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Outraged by Edward's marriage to Lady Grey, agrees to provide military aid to the Lancastrian cause.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters/king_lewis_xi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_iii_se/characters