Louis XI, un règne de terreur ! - Secrets d'histoire

Although Louis XI is often depicted in history books as a cold, complex, and Machiavellian ruler, Stéphane Bern invites you to discover another side of this monarch and embark on a thrilling adventure through our heritage. This special episode of Secrets d'Histoire takes you on an epic journey through the castles of Amboise, Plessis-Bourré, the royal city of Loches, and the Château de Langeais… Not forgetting the imposing Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Bourges, where the young Louis was baptized, under the watchful eye of his father, King Charles VII, who would soon become the source of the young boy's many neuroses. Between father and son, it is a merciless struggle for power and a family chess game… with one side featuring a weary monarch whose only salvation lies in the courageous Joan of Arc, and on the other, an impatient adolescent, considered the heir but also the greatest threat. You will understand why Louis XI is described as the most cruel king in the history of the Kingdom of France, not only by his opponents, such as the powerful Dukes of Burgundy, but also by his own subjects. Is this image of a terrifying man justified? Has history too quickly condemned a king whose cruelty also masked enlightened and visionary governance? Known also as the “prudent king,” he orchestrates his reign with vigilance and a paranoid obsession, which ultimately becomes his greatest enemy. As for his heart, you will see that his relationships with women reveal a king torn between duty and desire. For Louis XI, every woman is a valuable ally but also an enigma to decipher…