 Through wars and guile, Louis XI overcame France's mostly independent feudal lords, and at the time of his death in the Château de Plessis-lez-Tours, he had united France and laid the foundations of a strong monarchy.He was, however, a secretive, reclusive man, and few mourned his death.Despite Louis XI's political acumen and overall policy of "Realpolitik", Niccolò Machiavelli criticized him harshly in Chapter 13 of "The Prince", calling him shortsighted and imprudent for abolishing his own infantry in favor of Swiss mercenaries.