The Prince · Character
Louis XII
French king who invaded Italy and lost Naples through poor policy.
minor
Also known as Louis the Twelfth, Louis, Louis XII
First appearance: III: Concerning Mixed Principalities
Louis XII's tie to Charles VIII is one of the pressures that moves The Prince—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Machiavelli was sent to France to negotiate with him; his errors in statecraft are summarized in The Prince.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
With Charles VIII (family): Charles VIII and Louis XII were successive kings of France, with Louis being Charles's cousin and successor. In Office: Machiavelli was sent to France to negotiate with him; his errors in…
Continue beside the text
The fuller portrait of Louis XII sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Louis XII in III: Concerning Mixed PrincipalitiesCharacter Web
10 connectionsA slice of how Louis XII sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Invaders and divinely favored rulers
- Ruthless political exemplars
+5 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when Machiavelli strips away the pretense of moral idealism, forci…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Charles VIII
family · ambivalent
Charles VIII and Louis XII were successive kings of France, with Louis being Charles's… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Louis XII in III: Concerning Mixed PrincipalitiesIn the story
Louis XII appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Office
- The Man and His Works
- III: Concerning Mixed Principalities
- IV: Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered by Alexander, Did Not Rebel Against the Successors of Alexander at His Death
- VII: Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired Either by the Arms of Others or by Good Fortune
- XII: How Many Kinds of Soldiery There Are, and Concerning Mercenaries
- XIII: Concerning Auxiliaries, Mixed Soldiery, and One’s Own
- XXV: What Fortune Can Effect in Human Affairs and How to Withstand Her
- +1 more
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Louis XII unlock in the free preview.
See Louis XII in III: Concerning Mixed Principalities