History's King Francis II

Francis II
Biographical Information
Title:	Francis II of France
Reign:	10 July 1559 – 5 December 1560
Coronation:	21 September 1559
Predecessor:	Henry II of France
Successor:	Charles IX
Born:	19 January 1544
Burial:	Saint Denis Basilica, France
Religion:	Roman Catholic
House:	House of Valois
Relationship Information
TV Character Information
Portrays:	King Francis
Portrayed by:	Toby Regbo

Francis II was the young King of France after his father dies when he was 16. He was already married to Mary, Queen of Scots.

Childhood

Born eleven years after his parents' wedding, Francis was named after his grandfather, King Francis I. Francis was at first raised at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. He was baptized on February 10, 1544, at the Chapelle des Trinitaires in Fontainebleau. Francis became Governor of Languedoc in 1546, and the Dauphin of France in 1547, after his grandfather's passing.

Arranged Marriage

His father King Henry II arranged the betrothal of his son to Mary, Queen of Scots, in the Châtillon agreement on 27 January 1548, when Francis was four years old. Mary had been crowned Mary, Queen of Scots in Stirling Castle when she was 9 months old. Besides being the Queen of Scotland, Mary was the niece of Claude, Duke of Guise, a very influential figure at the court of France. Soon the six-year-old Mary was sent to France to be raised at court until the marriage.

On 24 April 1558, the 14-year-old Dauphin married 15-year-old Queen of Scots. Until his death, Francis held the title King consort of Scotland.

A little over a year after his marriage, on 10 July 1559, Francis became King at 15, when his father died in a jousting accident. On 21 September 1559, Francis II was crowned king. The crown was so heavy that nobles had to hold it in place for him. The court then moved to the Loire Valley, where the Château de Blois became the couple's new home.

At the age of 15, Francis was considered to be an adult who did not need a regent. However since he was young, inexperienced, and in fragile health, he delegated his power to his wife's uncles from the noble House of Guise, François, Duke of Guise, and Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine. His mother, Catherine de' Medici, agreed to this delegation.

On the first day of his reign, Francis II instructed his four ministers to take orders from his mother, but since she was still in mourning for the loss of her husband, she directed them to the House of Guise.

Spoilers

Francis II's reign was dominated by religious crisis. His unpopular and repressive policy toward Protestantism motivated the Amboise conspiracy, in which certain Protestant leaders attempted a coup d'état against the king and the House of Guise. Due to growing discontent, the government tried conciliation. Under the influence of Catherine de' Medici. Until the end of Francis's reign, the kingdom was paralyzed by local revolts. He reacted by becoming more authoritarian.

With the marriage of Francis II and Mary, Queen of Scots the future of Scotland was linked to that of France. The Crown Matrimonial, a secret clause signed by the Queen provided that Scotland would become part of France if the royal couple did not have children. The Queen's mother, Marie of Guise, became regent for Scotland.

Because of French control over their country, a congregation of Scottish lords made the Regent and her French councils leave the capital, Edinburgh, in May of 1559. Having taken refuge at the fortress of Dunbar, Marie of Guise asked France for help. Francis II and Mary Stuart sent troops right away. By the end of 1559, France was back in control of Scotland.

Nothing seemed to stand in the way of France controlling Scotland apart from English support for the uprising of the Scottish nobles. Queen Elizabeth of England was still offended that Francis II and Mary Stuart had put on their coat of arms those of England, thus proclaiming Mary's claims on the throne of England.

In January 1560, the English fleet blockaded the port of Leith, which French troops had turned into a military base. Months later they were supported by the arrival of 6000 soldiers and 3000 horsemen, which began the siege of the city.

After losing another battle with England, On 6 July 1560, they signed the Treaty of Edinburgh, which ended French occupation of Scotland. Francis II and Mary Stuart had to withdraw French troops and stop displaying England's arms.

Weeks later, Scotland's parliament established Protestantism as the state religion. When Francis II and Mary Stuart were presented with the Treaty of Edinburgh, they were outraged and refused to sign it.

Death

The health of the King deteriorated, and on 16 November he suffered a syncope. After 17 months on the throne, Francis II died on 5 December 1560 in Orléans, Loiret, from an ear condition. Francis II died childless, so his younger brother 10 year old Charles, succeeded him. On 21 December, the Council named Catherine de Médici as Regent of France.

The Guises left the court, while Mary, Queen of Scots, Francis II's widow, returned to Scotland. On 23 December 1560, the body of Francis II was interred in the Saint-Denis by the Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon.

Notes

• King Henry II's sister, Madeleine of Valois, was Mary, Queen of Scots' father's first wife.
• His Godparents were Francis I, Pope Paul III, and his great-aunt Marguerite de Navarre.
• King Francis II was named after his paternal grandfather, King Francis I, and uncle Prince Francis I.
• Prince Francis was born 11 years and 3 months after his parent's were married.
• Francis had 3 half-siblings from his father's mistresses, and 9 more siblings from his parent's marriage.
• Francis and Mary were engaged when he was 4, and Mary, Queen of Scots was 5.
• Prince Francis II was 13 in the year 1557, the start of Season One.
• Francis and Mary's public wedding took place on 24 of April in 1558 at the Church of Notre Dame in Paris.
• Francis I knighted him during his baptism ceremony.
• Francis learned dancing from Virgilio Bracesco and fencing from Hector of Mantua.
• Mary and Francis had no children during their short marriage, possibly due to Francis' illnesses, or his undescended testicles.
• Francis' crown was so heavy that nobles had to hold it in place for him.
• Mary, Queen of Scots had briefly met her future husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley in February 1561 when she was in mourning for King Francis II. Darnley's parents, Lord and Lady Lennox, who were Scottish aristocrats as well as English landowners, had sent him to France ostensibly to extend their condolences while hoping for a potential match between the two.
• King Francis II died on 5 December 1560 when he was 16 from Syncope.

Family Tree

• History's Valois Family Tree

Francis I

Claude of France

Louise of France

Charlotte of France

Francis III

Henry II

Catherine de' Medici

Madeleine of Valois

Charles II

Margaret of Valois

Francis II

Elisabeth of Valois

Claude of Valois

Louis of Valois

Charles IX

Henry III

Margaret of Valois

• History's Valois/Bourbon Family Tree

Henry II of Navarre

Marguerite of Angoulême

Francis I of France

Claude of France

Jeanne III of Navarre

Antoine of Navarre

Henry II of France

Catherine de' Medici

Madeleine of Valois

James V of Scotland

Henry, Duke of Beaumont

Henry de Bourbon

Catherine de Bourbon

Charles IX of France

Claude of Valois

Elisabeth of Valois

Francis II of France

Mary I of Scotland

Related Pages

Pages related to King Francis are the following:

• King Francis 

• History's King Francis 

• Prince Francis and Queen Mary's Wedding 

• King Francis' Coronation • King Francis' Funeral 

• Francis and Mary • Francis and Lola • Francis and Olivia 

• Francis and Catherine • Francis and Henry 

• Francis and Leith • Francis and Sebastian 

• Francis' Kill Count • Francis' Room 

• Toby Regbo

References