Louis IX who became King of France at the age of twelve was religiously trained by his mother, Blanche of Castille. Throughout his life he remained deeply devout and as a king his conduct was that of a real saint. “He was,” said Bossuet, “The holiest and most just king who ever wore the crown.” He devoted himself to the affairs of his kingdom and to those of Christendom and was a great peacemaker: kings and princes constantly sought his aid in settling disputes. He was humble and upright, helpful to the needy and in person nursed lepers and the sick. St. Louis gave to all the example of a life overflowing with charity and sovereign justice. He was a Franciscan Tertiary. Following an illness he made a vow to undertake a crusade for the deliverance of the Holy Places; he was at first victorious but later fell into the hands of the Saracens. A few years later he set out on a new crusade but an epidemic of typhus decimated his army in Africa and he himself fell a victim to the disease. He died near Tunis lying on a bed of ashes on August 25, 1270.