Francis, Duke of Anjou
The ambitious youngest son of Catherine de' Medici, whose chaotic courtship of Queen Elizabeth I nearly altered the fate of England and France.
1555–1584 (age 29)·French prince·Birthday: March 18
Biography
François, Duke of Anjou, lived his short life in the long shadow of his powerful family and the brutal French Wars of Religion. As the youngest son of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici, he was a political pawn from birth, but one with a sharp mind and grand ambitions that often vexed his mother and his brother, King Henry III. His historical significance is inextricably tied to his audacious, years-long pursuit of Elizabeth I of England. This was no mere romantic dalliance; it was a high-stakes diplomatic gambit that promised a Franco-English alliance. The 'French Frog', as the English sometimes called him, made two dramatic visits to England, and Elizabeth's public flirtation with marriage brought Europe to the brink of a geopolitical realignment before the deal, and his life, ultimately collapsed.
#1 When Francis, Was Born
The biggest hits of 1555
Francis,'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1555Born
1560Started school
1568Became a teenager
1571Could drive
1573Could vote
1576Turned 21
1584Died at 29
Key Achievements
- Served as a nominal leader of the politique faction during the French Wars of Religion, seeking political compromise.
- Was formally created Duke of Anjou by his brother, King Charles IX, in 1566.
- His courtship of Elizabeth I resulted in the 1581 Treaty of Bristol, which pledged mutual defense between England and France.
Did You Know?
He was a suitor not only to Elizabeth I but also, earlier, to Mary, Queen of Scots.
He suffered from severe facial scarring from a bout of smallpox.
His death from malaria at age 28 left the French succession vulnerable, as his brother Henry III had no heir, paving the way for the Bourbon dynasty.
“A crown is not inherited; it is taken, and I intend to take mine.”
