10 Interesting Things to know about Francis II of France’s siblings

Catherine de Medici with her children in 1561: Francis, Charles IX, Margaret and Henry. Photo By François Clouet – Wikimedia Commons

10 Interesting Things to know about Francis II of France’s siblings

Francis II was the King of France from 1559 to 1560. He was the first son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici. His parents had stayed childless for 11 years due to fertility issues and Henry’s lack of romantic interest in his wife.  

Francis II had 13 siblings, ten from his mother, Catherine, and three from his father’s mistresses. Some of his siblings died while they were toddlers, while others were assassinated.

All the children of Henry II of France had captivating life stories. Being born into royalty, their lives were always under the scrutiny of the public eye, and the future of France lay in the decisions they made. 

The reign of his siblings also saw the beginning and end of the French wars of religion. The battles were detrimental and damaged the power of the French monarch. They also caused the death of about 2 to 4 million people.

Read more facts about Francis II’s mother Catherine De’ Medici here.

1. The Eldest Siblings of Francis II Of France Were Henry II’s Illegitimate Children

Diane de Poitiers duchesse de Valentinois (1499-1566).Photo By François Clouet  – Wikimedia Commons

Henry II’s marriage to Catherine de Medici was not one of love but of mere obligation. He had grown feelings for a much older woman, Diane de Poitiers, who would later become one of his mistresses.

Henry and Catherine were also having trouble bearing children. Things worsened for Catherine when one of Henry’s mistresses, Filippa Duci, gave birth to his firstborn, Diane in 1538. In 1551, another mistress gave birth to Henry’s first son, Henri d’Angouleme.

It was Diane de Poitiers who encouraged Henry II to work on his marriage with his wife. Catherine was at wits’ end and decided to consult the court physician on their fertility problems. In 1554, she conceived and gave birth to Henry’s first legitimate son and future heir, Francis II.

Henri de Valois was the last illegitimate child of Henry II. He was born in 1557 and married in Essoyes. He became the governor of Chateauvillain and was nicknamed the Bastard of Valois.

2. Three Of Francis II Of France’s Siblings Died When They Were Less Than Two Years

Of his ten siblings, two of them, Louis and Victorie, passed away within two years. Joan, the last born of the family, was stillborn. Louis was said to take over France if Francis II passed away and had no heir.

Louis, Duke of Orleans, was the second-born son of Henry II. He was born in 1549 and was nurtured with Mary Stuart and his other three siblings. Later in the year, Louis was taken to St. Germain-en-Laye for his christening ceremony.

Many say the ceremony was filled with splendor. It is believed that during this ceremony, the 1-year-old caught a cold and perished. Other accounts claim that Louis couldn’t have died after his christening. This was because the baptism happened on May 1549, yet Louis died in 1550.

Victoire was the second last born of the family and only lived for two months. Joan was her twin, and the two were both born in 1556.

3. The Church Condemned the Marriage Of His Eldest Sister

Elizabeth/ Isabel de Valois was the daughter of King Henri II of France and Catharine of Medici. Photo By Juan Pantoja de la Cruz – Wikimedia Commons

When Henry II denounced his claim to the Italian territories, he was obliged to sign the Peace of Cateau-Cambresis treaty. In 1550, Henry set up his first daughter with Catherine, Elizabeth, for an arranged marriage to Edward VI.

Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland. When Pope Julius II got word of this, he was displeased. He condemned the union and claimed that he would exclude the two from participating in the Catholic church services.

Henry, however, proceeded with the agreements. It was the unfortunate demise of Edward VI that terminated their set marriage. Eventually, Elizabeth wedded Philip II, the King of Spain, in 1559. She served as the Queen of Spain and was the third wife of Philip II.

4. Francis II Of France’s Eldest Sister Was Raised Together With His Wife Mary, Queen of England

Mary Stuart, queen of Scots. Photo By James Hopwood d’après Louis Marckl – Wikimedia Commons

Mary Stuart moved to the royal nursery in France after it was agreed that she was to marry Francis II. Mary and Elizabeth were raised together. The two shared a room and formed a friendship despite their three-year age gap.

5. His Sisters’ Marriage Was A Symbolic Peace Union Between France, England, And Lorraine

Elizabeth and Claude of France, Henry II’s first and second daughters, were married off after their father agreed to co-exist with England and Spain peacefully. Elizabeth was set to marry Edward IV, but he died before the agreement was fulfilled.

Claude of France was sent to Lorraine after her marriage to Charles III, Duke of Lorraine. Her husband had been a prisoner of the royal court after France invaded Lorraine, and his mother’s regency was terminated. Upon his return, he maintained a cordial relationship with France until the 8^th War of religion. 

6. It Is Believed That His Successor Arranged The 1572 Massacre Of The French Protestants

The Massacre of the Huguenots at Vassy, Photo Source Wikimedia Commons

Charles IX became the king of France from 1560 to 1574. The French wars of religion began in 1562 after the murder of protestant worshippers in the massacre of Vassy. Charles IX signed a treaty in 1563, and peace was restored in France. In 1567, signs of violence began to emanate, and a second war began. 

Charles IX tried several attempts to restore peace in France, but all were futile. In the moment of despair, he opted to arrange the marriage of his sister Margaret with a major protestant nobleman, Henry III of Navarre. On the wedding day (1572), all the present protestants were assassinated. Many believe only Catherine de Medici instigated the killings, while others say Charles IX was fully aware of the mob violence.

Find out more amazing facts about Charles IX of France here. 

7. One Of Francis II Of France’s Siblings Was Assassinated

Henry III was the favorite son of Catherine de Medici. He was born in 1551, after the birth of Francis III. He took over France from 1574 to 1589 after the passing of Charles IX.

While Francis II served as the King of France, Henry was elected the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1573. In 1575, he abandoned Poland after receiving the news of Charles IX’s death.

When Henry III failed to produce an heir, the succession of the French kingdom was to be left to his distant cousin Henry III of Navarre, a protestant. At the time, the last legitimate son of Henry II, Hercule, had passed on. This stirred up another religious conflict between the Catholics, politiques, and protestants, and the 8^th War of religion began. Henry III of France was supported by the politiques, Henry IV of France by the protestants, and the Catholics backed up Henry of Lorraine. The Catholic League wanted to exclude protestants from the succession of France completely, and in 1589, Henry III was assassinated by a Catholic fanatic.

Read other little-known facts about Henry III of France here. 

8.  Francis II Of France’s Youngest Brother Led A Religious Revolt Against France

Portrait of François-Hercule de France, duke of Alençon and later of Anjou. Photo By François Clouet- Wikimedia Commons

Hercule, also known as Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alencon, was born in 1555 and was the last son of Catherine de Medici. Initially, he was called Hercule but was named Francis after the death of his eldest brother Francis II.

When Henry III took over France, he and Hercule had major differences. In addition, Henry III and his mother speculated he would join the religious wars. Hercule was alienated and, in 1575, fled from his home to join the prince of Conde.

In 1576, Hercule, Prince of Conde, and King of Navarre joined forces to protest for religious rights in France. The army was too large to defeat, and Henry III yielded. He signed the peace of Monsieur treaty, which gave the protestants the right to build their churches and publicly worship.

Hercule was awarded the duchy of Anjou in 1576 after the peace settlement. Other protestants were granted titles and pieces of land in France.

9. One of His Siblings Was Rumoured To Have Been A Homosexual

During the reign of Henry III, many claimed that he was involved in sexual relationships with men known as mignons. The mignons were young, fashionable, and frivolous, and it was no surprise that the public assumed they were homosexuals. Despite this, Henry III enjoyed their company and often entertained them in his quarters.

Scholars such as Jean-Francois and Nicolas Le Roux were adamant that Henry III was a heterosexual. They back up their claims by saying he had good taste in beautiful women. The scholars also said that he had famous mistresses and his opponents wanted to ruin his name with false claims.

10. Francis II Of France’s Siblings Was The First Woman To Write Her Memoir

Margaret had been married to Henry III of Navarre for 27 years, but her infertility led to the annulment of their marriage. The political tension between the French monarch and Navarre also contributed to their marital conflicts. Margaret, who sat on the fence on the political matters between the two kingdoms, was rejected by her husband. She eventually agreed to a royal divorce in 1599.

Margaret was sent into exile for 20 years. While in prison, she decided to embark on a journey of self-reflection by writing her memoir. Margret became the first woman ever to do so. She gave accounts of the massacres, conspiracies formed to end her marriage, her stillbirth, and her experience in exile. The memoir was published in 1628 after her death.