General Notes

Francis II (of France) (1544-60), king of France (1559-60), born in
Fontainebleau, the eldest son of Henry II. In 1558 Francis married Mary, queen
of Scots. Francis was a mental and physical weakling and was dominated by
François, duke of Guise, and Cardinal Charles of Lorraine, the uncles of his
wife. These two men, who in effect were the rulers during Francis's brief
reign, tried to repress the growing political power of the Protestants in
France. His death ended the ascendancy of the Guises at court.