Louis VII (1120–1180), King of France from 1137 to 1180, is known for his role in the Second Crusade and as the first husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine. During his reign, the Capetian monarchy began to assert itself against powerful feudal lords. The town of Mantes, strategically located on the Seine between Paris and Normandy, held military importance and came under stronger royal influence in this period.
