Top 10 Interesting Facts about Francis II of France 

Photo Source: Wikimedia

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Francis II of France 

Francis II of France was the eldest son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici. He was born on 19 January and became the king of France at 15, after his father died in an acoustic accident.

He was also King consort of Scotland due to his marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots. Francis II had been engaged to Mary since he was 4 years old and they got married one year before he ascended to the throne.

Francis II ruled for only 17 months and died from multiple health complications. He was succeeded by his younger brother Charles IX who left no heir.

As a young King, his short reign was marred by religious-related conflicts that plagued France in the 16th century. Here are some of the top interesting facts about him.

1. Francis II of France was Born in the Family of Kings

Photo Source: Wikimedia

Francis II OF France was born in a family of kings; he was the eldest son of King Henry II and Catherine de Medici.

He succeeded his father who was the King of France from 31 March 1547 until he died in 1559. The second son of Francis I and Duchess Claude of Brittany, he became Dauphin of France upon the death of his elder brother Francis in 1536

His Grandfather Francis I was the king of France from 1515 until he died in 1557 He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He had succeeded his first cousin who had died without a son.

2. Francis II of France Married  the Queen of Scotland

Photo Source: Wikimedia

Francis II of France got betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots when he was only four years old. He became King Consort in Scotland after their marriage on 24th April 1558.

The union gave the future kings of France the throne of Scotland and also a claim to the throne of England through Mary’s great-grandfather, King Henry VII of England.

Their marriage produced no children before Francis died in 1560. Some historians believe the marriage could have not been consummated due to his ill health. 

Mary was the Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until she was forced to abdicate in 1567. She was the only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scotland.

3. Francis II of France was a Teenage King with no Experience

Francis was only 15 years old when he succeeded his father to the throne; he was frail due to his young age and poor health.

He was crowned king on 21st September 1559 by his uncle Charles, the cardinal of Lorraine. The crown was so heavy that the nobles had to hold it for him.

Although only 15 years old, French laws at that time recognized him as an adult and therefore he did not need a regent. But due to his poor health and inexperience, Frances delegated his power to his wife’s uncles from the noble House of Guise.

4. Protestants Conspired against Him

King Francis II ascended to the throne during a time of bloody protracted religious wars between Catholics and Protestants.

This religious opposition teamed up with unsatisfied military men to form a conspiracy to seize the king and arrest or kill the Cardinal de Lorraine and the Duke de Guise. 

Luckily for the king, the conspiracy was discovered before it was carried out, and all conspirators were arrested and sentenced to death for high treason.

5. He was the king Consort of Scotland

Photo Source: Wikimedia

Francis II was the King of Scotland due to his marriage to Mary, Queen of Scots, from 1558 until he died in 1560.

Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland in Stirling Castle on 9 September 1543 at the age of nine months, following the death of her father.

In the treaty of Haddington, France would protect Scotland from England’s aggression, after Mary was betrothed to Francis, the Dauphin of France.

Mary returned to Scotland in August 1561, following the death of King Francis II of France.

6. Francis II of France Died without an Heir

He got betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots when he was only four years old. his father wanted to create a lasting peace between France and Scotland.

They married in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on 24 April 1558, the marriage produced no children. and possibly due to Francis’s illnesses he was unable to impregnate his wife.

7. Francis II of France was Succeeded by his Ten years old Brother

Image Source: Wikimedia

Francis’s health deteriorated and he died on 5 December 1560 in Orléans from an ear condition. His body was interred in the Basilica of St Denis by the Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon.

He was succeeded by his ten years old brother Charles IX, and his mother Catherine de Medici was named Regent of France. 

The Guises left the court, while Mary Stuart, Francis II’s widow, returned to Scotland. 

8. Francis II of France Introduced Religious Tolerance

Throughout Francis’ reign, the country was faced with a religious crisis. Francis himself was Catholic and enforced a very repressive policy towards Protestantism throughout France.

Following this, the royal council realized that persecuting Protestants was only making things worse, and they decided to push for peace. 

The council tried to reach a point of reconciliation and peace between the Catholics and the Protestants, under the influence of Catherine de Medici.

This involved Francis ordering for all of the religious prisoners to be released. It was the first sign of religious tolerance in France since the rule of Henry II.

9. Francis II was Raised at Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Francis was born 11 years after his parents got married. This long wait was contrary to the royal family’s norms, to sire an heir in the first years of the marriage.

Francis spent the beginning part of his life at the ‘Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye and was baptized in February 1544 in the presence of his godparents, Francis I, Pope Paul III, and Marguerite de Navarre.

10. Francis II of France had a Sickly Life

Image Source: Wikimedia

 It was clear from very early on in Francis’ life that he was a sickly individual. He suffered from respiratory problems and stunted growth during his childhood and was plagued by illness throughout the rest of his life.

His health started to deteriorate in November 1560 and on the 16th of November he fainted. Less than a month later, on the 5th of December 1560, Francis II of France died from an ear condition.