Louis VIII

Inherited the consolidated kingdom his father built and reigned for only three years before dying of dysentery on campaign. Before becoming king he had pressed an English crown of his own — invited by rebellious barons to take the throne from John, he occupied half of England in 1216 before being driven out after John's death. As king, he turned south to crush the remnants of the Albigensian heresy and brought Languedoc decisively under royal authority.