Saint Louis IX: Honesty, Justice, and Medieval Virtues

King Louis IX of France was renowned for his sanctity, embodying his holy words and teachings through his actions. His virtues were numerous, encompassing honesty, temperance, modesty, a belief in the power of words, peacemaking, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Honesty and Keeping One's Word

Louis's commitment to honesty was paramount. As recounted in paragraph 21, he would not lie even to the Saracens, specifically regarding an agreement for his brother's release from captivity. When his council advised against delivering the ransom until his brother was returned, Louis insisted on fulfilling his promise, stating that he had an agreement and expected the Saracens to uphold their end.

A striking example of his integrity occurred when Lord Philip of Nemours informed him that the Saracens had been shorted by £10,000 in the payment. Louis was enraged, demanding the immediate return of the sum, as he had promised £200,000 before leaving the river.

Temperance in Speech and Dress

Louis was temperate in both his speech and his attire. He believed a man should dress and arm himself in a manner that would not lead "prudhomme" (courageous men) to accuse him of excessive display, nor young men to perceive him as lacking. In his eating and drinking habits, he was moderate, famously adding water to his wine, as Joinville notes, in proportion to what the wine could bear. This practice highlighted his moderation, a virtue rooted in the Latin "modus," meaning measure, limit, or regulation.

Modesty and Humility

Louis's modesty was a direct reflection of the Christian value of humility, mirroring that of Christ. Joinville recounts an exchange where Louis asked if he washed the feet of the poor on Maundy Thursday. When Joinville expressed disdain for such an act, Louis rebuked him, emphasizing that one should not scorn what God did for instruction, and urged him to become accustomed to washing their feet.

This ideal of the modest man, whose modesty elevates him, emerged in the 12th and 13th centuries, embodied by the "prudhomme." This term, frequently used in the life of Saint Louis, describes a man who is both brave and wise, a precursor to the Renaissance courtier or the 19th-century English gentleman.

The Power of Words and Theological Debate

Louis believed in the power of words, discussion, and debate before making decisions or setting policy, with a notable exception for Jewish individuals. An episode at the monastery of Cluny involved a debate between clerics and Jews, where a Jew who denied the Virgin Mary's virginity was summarily dealt with.

Louis famously stated that only a skilled theologian should debate with Jews. For a layman, if Christian law was slandered, the only defense should be a sword thrust into the offender's guts. While Louis was not a friend to Jews, periodically confiscating their property and exiling them, this passage also suggests his belief that theological debates required competent theologians. This perspective could be seen as supporting the university system, particularly the College of the Sorbonne, founded in 1257 during his reign. Louis was literate, valued reading throughout his life, and even saw himself as a teacher.

Peacemaking and Diplomacy

Louis was a dedicated peacemaker, mediating disputes among his barons in Brittany, Navarre, and Champagne, and between France and England. He often sealed these peace agreements, as was the medieval custom, through marriages between the children of warring families.

Joinville recounts how Louis's negotiations led the King of England, his wife, and children to France to conclude a peace treaty. When his counselors opposed his concessions, Louis explained that while the English king's ancestors were justly deprived of the territories, he was returning them not out of obligation, but to foster love between their children, who were first cousins.

Advocate of Justice

Above all, Louis was known as an advocate of justice. He outlawed the old feudal judicial procedure of trial by combat, replacing the "ordeal" or "judgment of God" with the procedure of inquest. This involved:

• Collecting material facts surrounding a case.
• Organizing these facts into a file or dossier.
• Facilitating debate between plaintiff and defendant in a court, potentially including the Parliament of Paris, a place for speaking ("parler" in French) rather than fighting.

Louis was also celebrated for his accessibility and fairness. The iconic image of justice rendered under the oak tree at Vincennes exemplifies this. Joinville notes that Louis would often sit in the woods after mass, leaning against an oak tree, and invite anyone with a matter to be settled to speak to him directly, without interference from ushers. He would personally ask, "Is there anyone here with a case to settle?"

His return from the Crusades marked a general judicial reform. Louis, by God's grace, ordained that all officials—bailiffs, viscounts, provosts, mayors, and others—must swear to deal fairly with all people, rich or poor, strangers or friends, and to uphold good and proven customs.

This principle of fairness characterized Joinville's "Life of Saint Louis." Justice remained central to Louis even on his deathbed, as he urged his son to rule as a just sovereign: "Uphold the good customs of your kingdom and abolish the bad... You must uphold justice and be fair to your subjects. You should be trustworthy and firm, not turning to the right or the left. Follow the straight path and support the side of the poor until such time as the truth is revealed."

Louis's laws, known as the "Establishments of Saint Louis," were collected shortly after his death and represent one of the first systematic attempts to rationalize statutes, akin to the old Roman codex like that of Justinian.

Charity and Christian Deeds

Louis's mother, Blanche of Castile, famously told him she would rather he were dead than commit a mortal sin. Louis distinguished himself through his deeds as well as his words, particularly through his Christian charity. He was known as a friend to the poor and disadvantaged, distributing alms and food, and endowing institutions. These included a student residence, various abbeys and priories, and the "Quinze-Vingts" hospital for the blind.