The House of Valois was the ruling family during much of the European Renaissance and the French Wars of Religion. The first Valois king was François I, who helped bring art and culture north from Italy. He invited Leonardo Da Vinci to his court in 1520, where the artist later passed away. His son, Henri would marry one histories most infamous women, Catherine de Medici and love another infamous woman, Diane de Poitiers. Henri II was succeeded by three incompetent sons who were ruled by their domineering mother and almost succeded in destroying the French monarchy.
François I 1494 – 1547
- Parents – Charles, Count of Angloulême and Louise of Savoys
- Acended the throne in 1515
- Reigned for 32 years
- Married (1) Queen Claude, daughter of Louis XII and (2) Eleanor of Spain
- Children included Louise, Charlotte, Francois, Henri, Charles of Valois, Madeline, Marguerite
Notable Accomplishments- François was known as the Renaissance King. He invited Leonardo Da Vinci to France and was a patron to many other Renaissance artists. François was always fighting or on the verge of fighting Henry VIII of England or the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He and Henry VIII even held a wrestling match during the 1520 summit of the Field of Cloth of Gold, in Calais. François won the match and in a fit of sour grapes Henry broke their treaty and sided with Charles V. So take that François!
Henri II 1519- 1559
- Parents - François I and Queen Claude
- Ascended the throne in 1547
- Reigned for 12 years
- Married Catherine de Medici
- Children included Francois II, Elisabeth Queen of Spain, Claude Duchess of Lorraine, Charles IX, Henri III, Marguerite Queen of Navarre and France, Hercule Francois Duc of Anjou
Notable Accomplishments – Named for his godfather, King Henry VIII, Henri II ruled France jointly with his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. He held no love for his queen, Catherine de Medici, though they did have ten children together. During Henri’s reign France fought wars with Italy and Charles V. Henri also raised Mary, Queen of Scots , who married his eldest son and briefly became Queen of France.
François II 1544- 1560
- Parents - Henri II and Catherine de Medici
- Ascended the throne in 1559
- Reigned for 1 year
- Married Mary, Queen of Scots. They had no children.
Notable Accomplishments- François reigned as a boy-king upon the unexpected death of his father, Henri II. He was married Mary, Queen of Scots, who powerful uncles, the Duc de Guise and Cardinal of Lorraine, controlled the reigns of government, until François died unexpectedly from an ear infection.
Charles IX 1550-1574
- Parents - Henri II and Catherine de Medici
- Ascended the throne in 1560
- Reigned for 13 years
- Married Elizabeth of Austria. They had no children.
Notable Accomplishments: Accomplishments might not be the best way to describe this particular French monarch. Charles IX was best known for his penchant for dressing up in women’s clothing. He also helped plot the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre along with his mother, Catherine de Medici, inciting the French Wars of Religion.
Henri III 1551-1589
- Parents - Henri II and Catherine de Medici
- Ascended the throne in 1574
- Reigned for 15 years
- Married Louise of Lorraine. They had no children.
Notable Accomplishments: Henri III vacillated between Renaissance playboy, oblivious to the needs of his people or the running of the French government, and religious zealot who dressed in monk robes and publicly flogged himself.
Up next: The House of Bourbon
Sources:
Burns, Ralph, Lerner, Meacham. World Civilizations, Sixth Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1982.
Farquar, Michael. A Treasury of Royal Scandals. New York: Penguin Book, 2001.
Lang, Sean. European History for Dummies. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, 2006.
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