Louis XIX (Reign of Kings)

Louis XX of France (5 September 1879-28 February 1934) was King of France from 1879 to 1934. He was a monarch from birth as his father, Louis XVIII, had died the previous year. Louis's mother, Marie Isabelle of Spain, served as regent until he assumed full powers on his thirteenth birthday in 1894. He ruled during an eventful period in the history of France, which included the period of World War I (1914–1918), when 30 percent of France was overrun, occupied, and ruled by the German Empire.

Birth and regency
Louis XIX was born on 5 September 1879 in the Seine Palace. He was the posthumous son of Louis XIX of France, who had died in November 1876, and became King of France upon his birth. Just after he was born, he was carried naked to the French prime minister Émile Ollivier on a silver tray. He was baptised in the Palace Chapel on 11 September.

His mother, Marie Isabelle of Spain, served as his regent until his 13th birthday. Upon the French Charter of 1812 Marie Isabelle governed with a regency council, with Marie Isabelle as head of the council. For security reasons, the new King and his family relocated their primary residence to the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye outside the city, only entering the capital for various ceremonial functions.

During the regency, it marked by a number of major political developments. Marie Isabelle let her ministers take full charge of government affairs, playing a far lesser role than her husband. The principle that the prime minister was the person supported by a majority in the Chamber of Deputies, whether the queen personally favoured him or not, became established. Her governments, with little help from the Regent, presided over French policy. Marie Isabelle interfered much more in internal policy than foreign affairs; her one exception to official politics was her militant anti-German sentiment.