Childhood & Early Life
Francis II was born on January 19, 1544, at the ‘Château de Fontainebleau,’ France. He was the eldest son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. It is believed that he was born eleven years after his parents’ marriage, because of his father’s involvement with his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. He was named after his grandfather, King Francis I.
He was raised at the ‘Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye’ and baptized in February 1544, in the presence of his godparents, Francis I, Pope Paul III, and Marguerite de Navarre. He suffered from respiratory problems and stunted growth during his early childhood, and that continued to trouble him throughout his life.
He was tutored by a Greek scholar named Pierre Danès and learnt dancing and fencing from Virgilio Bracesco and Hector of Mantua, respectively. He was raised by Jean d'Humières. He was appointed as the governor of Languedoc in 1546 and the dauphin of France in 1547, when his grandfather, Francis I, passed away.
He was betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots, at the age of 4, by the ‘Treaty of Haddington’ in July 1548. The treaty sought the protection of France for Scotland, against the British invasion. Mary was sent to France to be raised at court till she got married to Francis II at the ‘Notre Dame Cathedral’ in Paris on April 24, 1558. He was 14 years old and she was a year older when they got married.
The wedding gave the future king of France access to the throne of Scotland and to England, through Mary’s great-grandfather, King Henry VII of England. Francis II remained the king of Scotland till he died.
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Career
Francis II became the king of France on July 10, 1559, at the age of 15, after the death of his father in a jousting accident. He was crowned in Reims on September 21, 1559, by his uncle, Charles, the cardinal of Lorraine. He adopted the Sun as his emblem. His mottos were “Spectanda fides” and “Lumen rectis,” which meant “This is how faith should be respected” and “Light for the righteous,” respectively.
Although according to French custom, Francis II was an adult at the age of 15, he chose his wife’s uncles, Francis, the duke of Guise, and Charles, the cardinal of Lorraine, as his regents. The duke of Guise headed the army, while Charles took care of the finance, justice, and diplomacy departments.
‘The House of Guise’ gained power under King Francis II, and the king’s rival, Constable Anne de Montmorency, lost his say. His father’s mistress and her protégé, Jean Bertrand, were also sidelined, while the Guises were given the title of the “Grand Master of France.”
The legitimacy of the Guises as rulers of France was questioned by the “Princes of the Blood.” The Guises were viewed as power-hungry rulers who were exploiting the weakness of the king. Their financial policies were also disastrous.
The rule of Francis II was marked by a repressive policy toward the Protestants, which gave rise to the Amboise conspiracy to overthrow the king and the ‘House of Guise.’ His rule was hampered by local revolts, due to which he had to become more authoritarian to hold on to power.
In March 1560, Francis II granted general amnesty to the Protestants. However, the Amboise conspiracy to take over the palace and abduct the king with the help of the royal guards was already under way. Fortunately, the conspiracy failed due to poor planning and organization.
Francis II wanted to be lenient on the revolting soldiers on the condition that they put down their arms. However, the palace was stormed, resulting in a bloodbath that ended with the deaths of hundreds of rebels and the arrests of the leaders of the conspiracy.
Following the Amboise conspiracy, the royal council realized that persecuting the Protestants would only make things worse. Francis II ordered clemency toward the Protestants and released all religious prisoners. This was the first time religious tolerance was displayed since the rule of Henry II.
The reconciliation was opposed by the Guises, which made the Queen Mother intervene and officially call for a general council, without the consent of Pope Pius IV. Christians of all sects in Europe were called upon to unite and reconcile with each other. The “Princes of the Blood” were also brought back to resume their roles in the king’s council.
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The policy that was brought in to ease the tension between the Protestants and the Catholics only encouraged the Protestants in the rural areas to congregate against the government. Francis II was forced to finally mobilize his troops to bring in normalcy by the use of force.
He continued with the peace efforts, which Henry II had started with the Habsburg Empire, and returned land conquered by France over the last 40 years. This reduced the influence of France in Europe, to the advantage of Spain. The implementation of the treaty signed by Henry II involved realignment of boundaries, with exchange of territories and rehabilitation of displaced families.
Following the marriage of Francis II and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, Scotland was to become part of France if the royal couple did not have any children. The Scottish lords did not like this clause and organized an uprising against the queen and her French council. The revolt was supported by England. The ‘Treaty of Edinburgh’ was signed and ended the French occupation of Scotland. Following this, Scotland established Protestantism as its state religion.
Personal Life & Legacy
Francis II was betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots, at the age of 4 and ascended the throne of France at the age of 15. Although he was an adult according to the French law, he was an inexperienced and weak ruler who was exploited by his advisors. He wanted to bring reconciliation and peace in his kingdom, but his policies had the opposite result due to poor statesmanship.
He suffered from poor health that further hampered his rule. He died on December 5, 1560, in Orléans, due to multiple complications, having reigned for just 17 months. He had no children. Thus, his younger brother, Charles, succeeded him. His wife returned to Scotland.
Facts About Francis II of France
Francis II of France was the first husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, and their short-lived marriage is a well-known chapter in European history.
He was known for his interest in music and poetry, composing his own works and patronizing artists and musicians during his reign.
Francis II was passionate about hunting and spent much of his time in the forests of France pursuing game.
Despite his brief reign, Francis II was a well-educated monarch who had a keen interest in literature and the arts.
He was known for his chivalrous and romantic nature, which endeared him to many at court.
