According to the requirements of the crisis Louis had no more hesitation about violating than about making promises; and, all the while that he was seeking after popularity, he intended to make his power felt at any price.
How could he have done without heavy imposts and submission on the part of the tax-payers?
For it was not only at home in his own kingdom that he desired to be chief actor and master.

He pushed his ambition and his activity abroad into divers European states.

In Italy he had his own claimant to the throne of Naples in opposition to the King of Arragon's.
In Spain the Kings of Arragon and of Castile were in a state of rivalry and war.

A sedition broke out in Catalonia.

Louis XI.