Figure 1.--This drawing shows Dauphane François at about 3-4 years of age. It is by François Clouet, famous painter of members of the French court.

Francis II was born in Fontainbleau during 1544. He was the first son of King Henry II and Queen Catherine de Medici and died as a boy king. His mother was daughter of Lorenzo de Medici, duke of Urbino, and Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne, a Bourbon princess related to many of the French nobility. King Henry and Queen Catherine had 10 children, only one of whom did not survive. Frances had two younger brothers who also became kings of France (Charles IX and Henri III). We know very little about his childhood. The drawing here is by Francois Clouet, famous painter of members of the French court (figure 1). The portrait is Frances as a young child, probably about 3-4 years old.Frances was neither healthy or intelligent. He was used as an instrument of his uncles (François of Loraine, Duc de Guise, and Charles Cardinal of Loraine) in their political itrigues. He was only 14 years old when he married Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary was exiled from Scotland and raised in the French court. She was only 15. Frances became king in 1559 when his father died, but only reigned for about a year. His mother Catherine de Medici served as regent for both Francis and her other sons and exercised enormous power. Frances died in 1560, still a teenager. Mary, Queen of Scots, of course married Lord Darnley after she had returned from France to Scotland as a young widow. Their son became King James I of England. As Frances and Mary had no children, the crown passed to his younger brother Charles with their mother Catherine still serving as regent.

Parents

Francis was the first son of King Henry II and Queen Catherine de Medici. His mother was daughter of Lorenzo de Medici, duke of Urbino, and Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne, a Bourbon princess related to many of the French nobility. He was the grandson of Francis I, King of France, and of Claude of France.

Siblings

King Henry and Queen Catherine had 10 children, only one of whom did not survive. Frances had two younger brothers who also became kings of France (Charles IX and Henri III).

Childhood

Francis II was born in the Royal Chateau at Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, during 1544. We know very little about his childhood. Frances was neither healthy or intelligent.

Childhood Clothing

The drawing here is by Francois Clouet, famous painter of members of the French court (figure 1). The portrait is Frances as a young child, probably about 3-4 years old.

Plitical Intrigues

He was used as an instrument of his uncles (François of Loraine, Duc de Guise, and Charles Cardinal of Loraine) in their political itrigues.

Mary Queen of Scotts

Mary Stuart as an infant was crowned Queen of Scots in Stirling Castle (1543). She was only 9 months old. King Henry arranged his son's marriage to Mary Stuart (1548). Francis was only 4 years old at the time. Once the marriage agreement had been formally ratified, the 6-year-old Mary was sent to France (1548). She was 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, King Henry 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." Frances was only 14 years old when as Dauphin he married Mary (1558). She was only 15. Frances thus became King-consort of Scotland. The marriage was of great political significance. It gave France's future king the throne of Scotland and it posed a challenge to the Tudors as it also gave Frances a claim to the throne of England. Frances died inly 2 years after the marriage and the couple had no children. Mary returned to Scotland as a young widow and married Lord Darnley. Their son became King James I of England.

Reign

A year after his marriage, Francis's father, Henry II, unexpectedly died. Francis, still only 15 years old, was crowned king at Reims (1559). The crown was so heavy that nobles had to hold it in place for him. His mother Catherine de Medici served as regent for both Francis and her other sons and exercised enormous power. Historians differ on Catherine's role as regent. Mary's uncles François de Guise and Charles de Guise seem to have had considerable influence. Frances only reigned for about a year. He died still a teenager (1560).

Secession

As Frances and Mary had no children, the crown passed to his younger brother Charles with their mother Catherine still serving as regent.

Created: May 20, 2004
Last updated: 6:10 AM 1/19/2008