Chapter King's Own to King-Maker of K by Brewer's Readers Handbook

XV. a scandalous debauchee, were surnamed the Well-beloved; Henri II., a man of pleasure, wholly under the thumb of Diane de Poitiers, was called the Warlike; Louis XIII., most unjust in domestic life, where alone he had any freedom of action, was called the Just; Louis XIV., a man of mere ceremony and posture, who lost battle after battle, and brought the nation to absolute bankruptcy, was surnamed the Great King. (He was little in stature, little in mind, little in all moral and physical faculties; and great only in such littlenesses as posturing, dressing, ceremony, and gormandizing.) And Louis XVIII., forced on the nation by conquerors quite against the general will, was called the Desired.

Kings of France. The succession of three brothers has been singularly fatal in French monarchism. The Capetian dynasty terminated with three brothers, sons of Philippe le Bel (viz. Louis X., Philippe V., and Charles IV.). The Valois dynasty came to an end by the succession of the three brothers, sons of Henri II. (viz. François II., Charles IX., and Henri III.). The next or Bourbon dynasty terminated in the same manner (Louis XVI., Louis XVIII., and Charles X.).

After Charles IV. (the third brother of the Capetian dynasty), came Philippe de Valois, a collateral descendant; after Henri III. (the third brother of the Valois dynasty), came Henry de Bourbon, a collateral descendant; and after Charles X. (the third brother of the Bourbon dynasty), came Louis Philippe, a collateral descendant. With the third of the third the monarchy ended.

Kings Playing with their Children.

(1) The fine painting of Bonington represents Henri IV. (of France) carrying his children pickaback, to the horror of the Spanish ambassador.

(2) Plutarch tells us that Agesiläos was one day discovered riding cock-horse on a walking-stick, to please and amuse his children.

(3) George III. was on one occasion discovered on all-fours, with one of his children riding astride his back. He is also well remembered by the painting of “George III. Playing at Ball with the Princess Amelia.”

King Franconi. (See Franconi, p. 392.)

King John. (See under John, p. 550.)

King John and the abbot of Canterbury. (See under John, p. 551.)

King Log. (See Log, p. 622.)

King-Maker (The), Richard Neville, earl of Warwick, who fell in the battle of Barnet (1420–1471). So called because when he espoused the Yorkists, Edward IV. was set up king; and when he espoused the Lancastrian side, Henry VI. was restored.

Thus fortune to his end the mighty Warwick brings,
This puissant setter-up and plucker-down of kings.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xxii. (1622).