House of Bourbon question

I don't know what is your source, but it is the first time I ever read someone saying that Louis XIII could have been borderline crazy. Such a claim is groundless.

The man was a shy inhibited very religious man. Some claim that he may have been a repressed homosexual. But he was not borderline crazy.

Which does not prevent you from developing a "what if Louis XIII had turned mentally insane ?"

Lol indeed.

So Louis XIII does not die in 1643, and say lives on another twenty years, how might this change the situation in Europe? Less aggressive France for a time? More focus on colonial adventures
 
My guess is that it would change nothing.

There was a very deep and strong continuity in the french royal policy during Louis XIII's reign, Mazarin's rule during the regency, and Louis XIV's reign.

The secular diplomatic goal of France was to break the encirclement by the house of Habsburg and to strengthen the defenses of the kingdom by annexing border territories and closing to the Rhine. That was called the "backyard" policy, and it was devised by Richelieu and approved by king Louis XIII who undefectibly backed Richelieu. Mazarin and Louis XIV just walked in their way in the footsteps of Richelieu and Louis XIII. One could even trace back this strategy to the reign of king Saint Louis who initiated the french strategy of penetrating the area that had once been called Lotharingia through a series of political and dynastic alliances with the local feudal lords who were attracted into the french orbit.

This strategy was the multisecular strategy of France and it was terminated only when napoleonic France was defeated once and for all.
 
My guess is that it would change nothing.

There was a very deep and strong continuity in the french royal policy during Louis XIII's reign, Mazarin's rule during the regency, and Louis XIV's reign.

The secular diplomatic goal of France was to break the encirclement by the house of Habsburg and to strengthen the defenses of the kingdom by annexing border territories and closing to the Rhine. That was called the "backyard" policy, and it was devised by Richelieu and approved by king Louis XIII who undefectibly backed Richelieu. Mazarin and Louis XIV just walked in their way in the footsteps of Richelieu and Louis XIII. One could even trace back this strategy to the reign of king Saint Louis who initiated the french strategy of penetrating the area that had once been called Lotharingia through a series of political and dynastic alliances with the local feudal lords who were attracted into the french orbit.

This strategy was the multisecular strategy of France and it was terminated only when napoleonic France was defeated once and for all.

Okay interesting.

How might Louis XIII's survival influence events in England say? Butterflies and all that
 
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