Francis II of France

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French Monarchy-
Capetian Dynasty
(Valois-Angoulême branch)

Francis I

Children
Francis
Henry II
Madeleine of Valois
Charles of Valois
Margaret of Valois
Henry II
Children
Francis II
Elizabeth of Valois
Claude of Valois
Louis of Valois
Charles IX
Henry III
Marguerite of Valois
François, Duke of Anjou
Joan of Valois
Victoria of Valois
Francis II
Charles IX
Henry III

Francis II (French: François II) (January 19, 1544 – December 5, 1560, King of France (1559 – 1560), was born at the Royal Chateau at Fontainbleau, Seine-et-Marne, the son of Henry II, King of France (March 31 1519 – July 10 1559) and Catherine de Medici (April 13 1519 – January 5 1589). He was the grandson of Francis I, King of France, and Claude of France, and the brother of Charles IX, King of France, and of Henry III, King of France.

1 King consort of Scotland
2 King of France
3 Marriage
4 References

[edit] King consort of Scotland

Image:Armoiries François II dauphins.png

His marriage to Mary Stuart was arranged by his father in 1548 when Francis was four years old. Mary had been crowned Queen of Scots in Stirling Castle on September 9, 1543, at the age of nine months. Once the marriage agreement had been formally ratified, in 1548 the six-year-old Mary was sent to France, to be raised in the royal court until the marriage. Despite the fact that Mary was tall for her age and fluent in speech while Francis was abnormally short and stuttered, Henry II said that "from the very first day they met, my son and she got on as well together as if they had known each other for a long time".<ref>Guy, John, My Heart is my Own, London, Fourth Estate, 2004, ISBN 0–00–71930–8:47</ref>

On April 24 1558, the fourteen-year-old Dauphin was married to Mary in a union that would give the future King of France the throne of Scotland and a claim to the throne of England.

[edit] King of France

A year after his marriage, Francis's father, Henry II, died, and Francis, still only fifteen years old, was crowned king at Rheims. The crown was so heavy that nobles had to hold it in place for him.<ref>Guy:102</ref> His mother, Catherine de Medici, was appointed regent, but it is considered that Mary's uncles François de Guise and Charles de Guise may have held the real power in that period.

Francis II, who had always been a sickly child, died on 5 December 1560 in Orléans, Loiret, at the age of sixteen, when an ear infection worsened and caused an abscess in his brain. He is buried in Saint Denis Basilica.

He was succeeded by his brother, Charles IX (June 27 1550 - May 30 1574).

[edit] Marriage

On April 24 1558, he married Mary Stuart (Mary, Queen of Scots) (December 8 1542 - February 8 1587). They had no children.

[edit] References

Monarchical Styles of King Francis II Par la grâce de Dieu, Roi de France

Reference style	His Most Christian Majesty
Spoken style	Your Most Christian Majesty
Alternative style	Monsieur Le Roi

Preceded by: Mary of Guise	King Consort of Scotland April 24, 1558 - December 5, 1560	Succeeded by: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Preceded by: Henry II	King of France July 10, 1559–December 5, 1560	Succeeded by: Charles IX