FRANCIS I

King of France, was born 1494, died 1547. His father was Charles of Orleans, Count of Angou1éme, and his mother Louise of Savoy, grand-daughter of Valentine, Duke of Milan. He ascended the throne in 1515, having succeeded his uncle, Louis XII. In prosecution of his claim to Milan he defeated the Swi in the plains of Marignano, and forced the reigning duke, Maximilian Sforza, to relinquish the sovereignty. On the death of Maximilian (1519) Francis was one of the competitors for the empire; but the choice fell on Charles of Austria, the grandson of Mazximilian, henceforth known as the Emperor Charles VY. From this period Francis and Charles were rivals, and were almost continually at war with one another. Both attempted to gain the alliance of England. With this view Francis invited Henry VIII of England to an interview, which took place near Calais, between Guines and Ardres, in June, 1520. The magnificence of the two monarchs and their suites on this occasion has given to the meeting me peas of the Field of the Cloth of sold. In 1521 war broke out between the rivals, and in 1525 Francis was defeated and taken prisoner at Pavia. He could recover his liberty only by renouncing his claims to Naples, Milan, Genoa, and Asti, the suzerainty of Flanders and Artois, and promising to cede the Duchy of Burgundy and somo other French fiefs. War was soon after renewed, an alliance, called the Holy League, haying been formed between the Pope Clement VII, the King of France, the King of England, the Republic of Venice, the Duke of Milan, and other Italian powers, with the object of checking the advances of the emperor. In this war Rome was taken and sacked by the Constable of Bourbon (1527), and Italy was devastated, but Francis gained little either of fame or material advantage. Peace was concluded in 1529, but hostilities again broke out in 1535, when Francis po e ed himself of Savoy. A hastily made-up peace was soon broken, and Francis again found himself at war with the emperor and the King of Hngland. NE Fortunately for France the union of the Protestant princes of Germany against the emperor prevented him from following up his succe , and inclined him to a peace, which was concluded at Crespy in 1544. Charles See Ralt 560 FRANCIS II resigned all his claims to Burgundy, and allowed Francis to retain Savoy. Two years aiter, peace was made with England. Francis I po e ed a chivalric and enterprising spirit, and was a patron of learning.—BIBLIOGRAPHY: Capefigue, Franco is I et la Renai ance; Julia Pardoe, The Court and Reign of Franco is I; A. C. P. Haggard, Two Great Rivals, Franco is I end Charles V.