St. Louis (1214–1270) became King of France at age 12. His first crusade came to grief in April 1250 when the Saracens in Egypt captured him. He survived this and went on to lead a second crusade in which he was stricken with a fatal case of typhus. During his 44-year reign he was noted for being a fearless soldier and skilled administrator, as well as for his piety, asceticism, and benevolence. He was often called upon to arbitrate disputes. He was canonized in 1297.

Saint Louis, King of France, King of The Missions

Nicknamed King of the Missions, San Luis Rey and its adjoining buildings occupy six acres of land, the largest in the area of all the missions. It is highly visible because of its brilliant white exterior, its blue capped bell tower, and the lengthy colonnade forming the front of the mission. 

Founded by Fr. Lasuen, it was named for Louis IX, king of France and a member of the Third Order. The mission grew quickly after its founding, serving the largest population of any of the missions: more than 2700 at one time.

When the missions were secularized in 1834, San Luis Rey could barely care for the few hundred natives who remained. The mission decayed until 1893 when Fr. Joseph O’Keefe came to convert it into a college for the friars from Zacatecas. It is one of two missions owned by the Franciscans.