 In 1641, the Catalan Courts recognised Louis XIII as Count of Barcelona, and ruler of the Principality of Catalonia.However, Catalans found French administration differed little from that of Castile, and the war became a three sided contest between the rural peasantry, the Spanish, and the French and Catalan elite.On 14 May 1643, Louis XIII died; his five year old son, Louis XIV, became king, his mother, Anne of Austria, taking control of the Regency Council that ruled in his name.