France
Louis XI, 1461-1483
Louis' reign marks the recovery of France. Charles VII was there for the victory over the English, and he began some reforms of the government, but it was Louis who made the reforms stick, and introduced many of his own. With Louis' reign, the French monarchy asserted itself as the supreme power within the realm, and made it once again a major force in Europe.
The king himself has been called King Spider by modern historians, for he was crafty, secretive, and inexorable in his pursuit of goals. He had no taste for chivalry and he despised warfare. A hard worker, he personally supervised even minute details of government. With little respect for the nobility, Louis filled his government with low-born men of talent.