Anne of Austria (1601-1666) was the wife of King Louis XIII of France and the mother of King Louis XIV. After her husband’s death in 1643, she ruled France as queen regent (temporary ruler) for her young son. Anne governed during the difficult end of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) and the civil disruptions in France known as the Fronde (1648-1653). In 1651, in response to criticism of Anne’s regency by rebellious nobles of the Fronde, 13-year-old Louis XIV was formally declared old enough to rule. But Anne continued to play a dominant role in government policy during his teenage years and beyond. Anne’s chief minister and principal adviser throughout this time was Cardinal Jules Mazarin.
Anne was born on Sept. 22, 1601, in Valladolid, Spain. Her parents were King Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria. Anne died on Jan. 20, 1666.
See also Louis XIV; Mazarin, Jules.
