Francis II, King of France

FRANCESCO II, king of FRANCE. - Son of Enrico II and Caterina dei Medici, born at Fontainebleau on 19 Jan. 1544, died on 4 Dec. 1560. Upon the death of his father (10 July 1559), he ascended the throne at a very young age. His policy was directed by his uncles, Francesco di Lorena and Card. Carlo di Lorena, and formed part of the bitter struggle they waged against French Calvinism. Under his reign, in March 1560, the conspiracy of Amboise was crushed, by which the Calvinists, instigated by the Principe di Condé, had planned the abduction of F. II in order to detach him from the influence of the Catholic nobility. F.'s uncles, who had elite Scottish troops at their disposal (in 1558 F. had married Maria Stuarda, queen of Scotland), arrested Condé at Orléans and subsequently succeeded in having him condemned to death (26 Nov.); the sudden death of F. and Caterina de' Medici's attempt at conciliation saved Prince Luigi di Condé.