Francis II of France

Reign: 1559 – 1560
Life: 1544–1560

His short reign was dominated by the first stirrings of the French Wars of Religion. Although the royal age of majority was 14, his mother, Catherine de' Medici, entrusted the reins of government to his wife Mary's uncles from the House of Guise, staunch supporters of the Catholic cause. They were unable to help Catholics in Scotland against the progressing Scottish Reformation, however, and the Auld Alliance was dissolved. After dying of an ear infection, Francis was succeeded by two of his brothers in turn, both of whom were also unable to reduce tensions between Protestants and Catholics.

During Francis II of France's reign, Elizabeth I of England ruled England, Suleiman the Magnificent ruled Ottoman Empire, and Akbar ruled Mughal Empire.

Want to learn more? Further reading

The Cambridge Illustrated History of France by Colin Jones

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