Medieval Romanesque churches had thick walls and few windows. From the 12th century onwards, Gothic architecture made it possible to increase the number of openings thanks to the cross-arches and buttresses. The first Gothic basilicas, Sens and Saint-Denis, let in a lot of light. Abbot Suger (1081-1151) was responsible for the renown of the Saint-Denis Basilica: he had the facade and the choir rebuilt and decorated them with stained glass windows. Louis IX (1214-1270) continued his work with the construction of an airy nave. The king had stone recumbents carved, which reinforced the status of the royal necropolis.