Why is Louis XIII so famous?

His two claims to fame are 1) he was the father of Louis XIV, the most powerful Bourbon King ever and 2) he is the King in Dumas' "The Three Musketeers". His wisest move was allowing Cardinal Richelieu run the country as he is one of the greatest statesman France ever produced. France was also largely successful in the 30 Years War 1618-1648.

Louis XIII was a man of very ordinary abilities, but he was a far more fortunate monarch than many a more capable king ; he had found a truly great prime Minister, Richelieu, and he had the firmness and common sense to keep him in office. Louis XIII died seven months after his great minister. He had been, to say the least, a very inconspicuous king, but he deserves a place in history for one crowning virtue, in the face of infinite opposition he had kept Richelieu for eighteen years in power. Those eighteen years were to prove decisive in the history of France. Under the successors of Louis XIII and of Richelieu, France was in a position to advance from strength to strength.