Francis II (of France)

Francis II (of France) (1544-1560), king of France (1559-1560), 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 Charles Cardinal 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.