Kings of France Named Louis Per BBC Comedy (?)

Do you enjoy European history and British comedy TV shows? My spouse introduced me to BBC programs back in the 70s.  Fawlty Towers was one of my favorites. 

Unfortunately, there is one show that I vaguely recall but can't remember the name or the names of any of the people in it, so it's hard for me to search for it. Perhaps if I tell what I can remember, somebody out there in cyberspace will help me fill in the blank.

So in this episode, there was a guy who was impersonating the king of France. “A” king of France. The king's name was Louis. That part was clear. The confusion was over the monarch's number. So the guy who was supposed to be king – every time somebody left the room after speaking with him, and another person would come in to talk to him, he would forget which number “Louis” he was. One time, he's Louis the 14th. Next time he's the 16th. The 10th? The 12th? He didn't know!

Image Credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louis14-E.jpg

It was hilarious! But didn't quite fully appreciate the humor, not being familiar with the history of France. Did a little research to figure out just how many kings of France were named Louis. There were eighteen (18). Eighteen kings of France ruled from the 7th century to the 18th century. Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of France after Louis 16th got his head chopped off. Louis XVII died in prison. Louis XVIII ruled as a constitutional monarch. (If there's a student of French history who knows differently, feel free to correct me.)

Can anybody name of the BBC TV show?

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FYI: There were 18 monarchs with the regnal name Louis in the history of France, though Louis XVII never actually ruled (he was a prisoner during the Revolution).

• Total kings named Louis (official historical figures): 18

• Actual ruling monarchs named Louis: 17 (excluding Louis XVII, who was never crowned or exercised power) (Wikipedia)

Staff, Fact Monster. “Rulers of France.” Fact Monster, 21 Feb. 2017.

👑 Kings of France Named Louis (with One Significant Fact Each)

1. Louis I “the Pious” (r. 814–840)
   Son of Charlemagne; as emperor he struggled to keep the Carolingian Empire united among his sons.

2. Louis II “the Stammerer” (r. 877–879)
   Carolingian king whose brief reign was marked by limited power and influence.

3. Louis III (r. 879–882)
   Jointly ruled France with his brother Carloman II before dying young.

4. Louis IV “d’Outremer” (r. 936–954)
   Called “from oversea” because he was raised in England before reclaiming the French throne.

5. Louis V “the Lazy/Do-Nothing” (r. 986–987)
   Last Carolingian king in France; real power was held by nobles.

6. Louis VI “the Fat” (r. 1108–1137)
   Strengthened royal authority by subduing unruly barons around Paris.

7. Louis VII “the Young” (r. 1137–1180)
   Married Eleanor of Aquitaine, bringing her lands into French royal influence before their annulment.

8. Louis VIII “the Lion” (r. 1223–1226)
   Led a crusade against the Cathars and expanded French control in the south.

9. Louis IX “Saint Louis” (r. 1226–1270)
   Canonized as a saint; led two crusades and reformed the legal system.

   ? Famous representative idea (summed up from chroniclers):

   “A king’s first duty is justice.” (Attributed to his reputation for fairness.)

10. Louis X “the Quarreller” (r. 1314–1316)
    Issued reforms including readmitting Jews to France and emancipating serfs who could pay their freedom.

11. Louis XI “the Prudent” (r. 1461–1483)
    Unified and strengthened France after the Hundred Years’ War. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

12. Louis XII (r. 1498–1515)
    Called “Father of the People” for domestic popularity and justice reforms.

13. Louis XIII “the Just” (r. 1610–1643)
    Under him Cardinal Richelieu centralized royal power and weakened the nobility.

14. Louis XIV “the Sun King” (r. 1643–1715)
    Longest-reigning monarch in French history; built Versailles and epitomized absolute monarchy.

? Famous quote:

“L’État, c’est moi.” (“I am the state.”) — Attributed (reflects his absolute rule).

15. Louis XV “the Beloved” (r. 1715–1774)
    His long reign saw the gradual weakening of royal authority that helped set the stage for revolution.

16. Louis XVI (r. 1774–1792)
    Last king before the abolition of the monarchy; executed during the French Revolution.

? Representative sentiment:

“I die innocent of all the crimes laid to my charge…” (Attributed at his execution.)

17. Louis XVII (nominal, 1793–1795)
    Recognized by royalists after Louis XVI’s death but never ruled; died in prison.

18. Louis XVIII (r. 1814–1824)
    Restored Bourbon monarchy after Napoleon; ruled under a constitutional charter.

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