# Louis XII becomes king (1498)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/1498-louis-xii-becomes-king
Location: France
Categories: ruler-change

The Valois-Orléans branch inherited the throne and renewed campaigns in Italy. Within the broader Renaissance & Wars of Religion period, Renaissance monarchy brought Italian wars, humanist culture and overseas exploration. The Reformation then fractured the kingdom, producing decades of civil war between Catholic and Protestant factions. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is Louis XII (King of France). Louis XII becomes king mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
Louis XII becomes king mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy.

Ruler at the time: [Louis XII](https://history-france.com/rulers/louis-xii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Louis XII becomes king](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Louis+XII+becomes+king&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Louis XII becomes king](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Louis+XII+becomes+king)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of French history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_French_history)