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What was the League of the Public Weal?
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Louis XI
Louis XI.
The League of the Public Weal was a coalition of malcontent French princes and great vassals formed in 1465 to oppose the centralizing policies of Louis XI.12
Key aspects of the League included:
- Motivation: The princes were antagonized by Louis XI’s efforts to strengthen royal authority, which included revoking pensions, promoting the independence of seigneurial towns, and limiting the influence of the nobility.12
- Objectives: In 1465, the League appealed to the public against what they termed royal misgovernment. They proposed the establishment of a regency of princes supported by the three estates to curb the King's power.1
- Leadership: The movement was led by powerful figures such as Francis II, the Duke of Brittany; Jean II, duc de Bourbon; and Charles the Bold of Burgundy. The King’s own brother, Charles de France, also joined the rebels.12
- Outcome: While the League forced Louis XI into unfavorable concessions in the 1465 settlement, the King successfully used diplomacy and political maneuvering to divide the princes and eventually reassert his authority.12