François Ier de France - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Biography

Youth and education

François Ier was born the September 12th 1494 with Cognac (Charente). Its first name comes to him from its godfather, François of Rochefoucauld. His/her father Charles of Angouleme, that François did not know, was the first cousin of the king Louis XII and the grandson of the duchess of Milan Valentine Visconti. For lack of heir, Louis XII had made come to the court from Amboise small Francois, accompanied by his mother Louise of Savoy and its older sister Marguerite. It is in this castle and on the edges of the the Loire that François grows.

Louise of Savoy, widow at nineteen years in 1495 whereas François is only 2 years old, only raises her two children. Child, it is surrounded companions who will remain influential in his adult life such Anne de Montmorency, Martin de Montchenu, Philippe de Brion and Robert of the Mark, lord of Fleuranges, with which one owes a description of their plays and activities. In 1502, François falls from horse and finds himself in a critical condition. His/her mother falls almost sick from there and lives only for the cure of that which it calls her “César”.

When François reaches the throne in 1515, it is 20 years old and the reputation to be a humanistic . It chooses like emblem the salamander. Its entry in Paris on February 15th 1515, gives the tone of its reign. Vêtu of a costume in fabric of money and encrusted with jewels, it makes pull up its horse and throws coins with crowd. Whereas its two predecessors, Charles VIII and Louis XII, devoted much time to the Italy, they did not seize the artistic and cultural movement which developed to with it. They nevertheless planted the decoration which allows the later blooming of the Renaissance in France.

The contact between the cultures Italian and Frenchwoman for the long period of the campaigns of Italy introduces new ideas in France at the time when François receives his education. Many its tutors, in particular François Desmoulins, his Latin professor (language that François will have much evil to assimilate), Italian Gian Francesco Conti, and Christophe Longueuil inculcate to the François young person a teaching very inspired of the Italian thought. The mother of François is also interested of close with art of the Rebirth and transmits this passion to her son who, during his reign, has a command of the Italian language to perfection. One cannot affirm that François receives a humanistic education; on the other hand, it receives an education which sensitizes it, more than very other of its predecessors, with this intellectual movement.

A prince of the Rebirth

Artists

At the time where François Ier reaches the throne, the ideas of the Italian Renaissance were diffused in France and the king contributes to this diffusion. It orders many work with artists who it makes come to France. Several work for him, of which largest like Andrea del Sarto and Léonard de Vinci. François Ier expresses a true affection for the old man, whom it calls “my father” and whom it installs with the Clos Lucé, with range of the royal castle of Amboise. Léonard brings in his trunks his works most famous such the Mona Lisa , the Virgin, the Jesus Child and Holy-Anne , the Saint Jean-Baptiste . The king entrusts to him various missions like the organization of the festivals of the Court with Amboise, the creation of costumes as well as the study of various projects. Vinci remains in France until its death, in the arms of the king according to a legend beaten in breach by certain historical documents.

One can also quote the goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini and the painters Rosso Fiorentino and Primatice, in charge of many work in the various castles of the crown. François Ier employs many agents like Pierre Arétin, charged to bring in France works of Italian Masters like Michel-Angel, Titien and Raphaël. It is during the reign of François Ier that the collection of works of art of kings de France, now exposed to the Louvre, really starts.

The guard of the Letters

Progress of printing works supports the publication of a growing number of books. In 1518, François Ier decides the creation of a large “cabinet of books” sheltered in Blois and entrusted to the poet of the Court Mellin of Saint-Froze. In 1536, prohibition is made of to sell or send in foreign country, aucuns books or books in some languages which they are, without to have given a specimen be hands of the guards of the Royal Library , library of which it names intendant humanistic the Guillaume Budé with mission of increasing the collection by it. It is in 1540 that it charges Guillaume Pellicier, ambassador in Venice, to buy and make reproduce Venetian manuscripts as much as possible.

At the instigation of Guillaume Budé, it founds the body of the “Royal Readers”, which will be sheltered in the “Royal College” (or “College of the three languages”, which will become the “Collège de France”). The construction of the building, although decided by François Ier and entrusted to the architect Jean-François Chalgrin, will not be concretized before the regency of Marie de Médicis, nearly one century later. Among the royal readers, one counts Barthélemy Masson, who teaches Latin, and the geographer and astronomer Oronce Fine, in load of mathematics. It supports the development of printing works in France and founds the Imprimerie Royale in which work of the printers like Jose Bade and Robert Estienne. In 1530, it names the printer Geoffroy Tory “printer of the king”, charges who passes in 1533 to Olivier Mallard, then in 1544 with Denys Janot. Thanks to the engraver and founder Claude Garamond, royal printing works innovates in a writing with characters of the Roman type more readable.

Many private libraries are born thus: Emard Nicolaï, president of the room of the accounts has a score of works. Five hundred volumes belong to the president of the Parliament, to Pierre Lizet, 579 pounds constitute the library of its fellow-member André Baudry, 775 in the chaplain of the king, Gaston Olivier, 886 for the Leferon lawyer, at least 3.000 at Jean of Tillet and several thousands at Antoine Duprat.

François Ier subsidizes poets such Clément Marot and Claude Chapuys and composes itself some poetries - although Mellin of Saint-Froze is suspected of being the author of certain poems whose François Ier allots paternity

His/her older sister, Marguerite, married with king de Navarre, are also an enthusiastic admiror of the letters and protect from many writers like Rabelais and Bonaventure Of Périers. She also appears in the list of the well-read men of the court, being the author of many poems and tests such the Ship , and the Prisons . She also publishes a bulky collection entitled the Daisies of the Marguerite of the princesses who takes again the whole of her writings. But its main work remains Heptaméron , a collection of unfinished tales which will be published after its death.

The builder

François Ier is a keen builder and spends without counting in the construction of new buildings. He continues the work of his predecessors to the Château of Amboise, but especially to the Château of Blois. By work which lasts ten years, it makes add two new wings to this last, of which one shelters the famous staircase, and modernizes its interior with woodworks and decorations containing arabesque S suitable for the Italian novel mode.

At the beginning of its reign, it starts the construction of the Château of Chambord, on a field of hunting acquired by Louis XII. It is strongly influenced by the Italian rebirth: Léonard de Vinci probably takes part in its plans, as well as the Italian architect Boccador, with which one owes the keep of this castle.

François Ier tries to rebuild the Louvre, making destroy the medieval tower of the dark fortress of Philippe Auguste. He asks for the construction of new a Town hall for Paris with an aim of influencing the architectural choices, which will be implemented besides by Boccador and Pierre Chambiges. In 1528, in the Bois de Boulogne, it makes build the Château of Madrid, under the direction of Girolamo de Robbia, which evokes by its structure the residence that François Ier occupied during his imprisonment in Spain. It also makes build, under the direction of Pierre Chambiges, the Château of Saint-Germain-in-Bush hammer as well as a castle of hunting, the castle of the Dumb woman, in the forest of Saint-Germain. It also makes open the building sites of the castles of Villers-Cotterêts towards 1530, Folembray in 1538, and of Challuau in 1542. In all, nearly 7 castles will be built and altered in 15 years.

Largest of the projects of François Ier is the almost complete rebuilding (only the Donjon of the former castle is preserved) Château of Fontainebleau, which quickly becomes its favorite place of residence. Work extends on about fifteen years to constitute what François Ier wants to be the ECRIN of his Italian treasures (tapestries drawn by Raphaël, bronzes of Hercules carried out by Michel-Angel, decoration of the gallery François Ier by Rosso Fiorentino, other decorations of Giovanni Battista Rosso and Primatice around whose the prestigious school of Fontainebleau was formed).

He also entrusts to Léonard de Vinci the development of the plans of the new castle of Romorantin in which the artist includes the plans of his ideal city of Milan. The project is nevertheless abandoned in 1519, the workmen of the building site being reached by an epidemic.

Each ambitious royal project profits from sumptuous decorations as well external as interior. It decides in 1517 foundation of a new port, initially called “Franciscopolis” but that the existence of a vault on the site chosen for its construction will make re-elect “Le Havre of Grace”.

Foreign policy

The foreign policy of France under François Ier very whole is dominated by the competition with the house of Habsbourg, in the person of Charles Quint, heir to the emperor Maximilien, its grandfather, and of the Spanish empire by his/her mother Jeanne Insane the. It should be admitted that during the period during which clash the house of France (François Ier then Henri II), the other European countries have the appearance of a comparses: the England of Henri VIII, the Papal States and other Italian principalities like the duchies of Ferrare and Modena (under Este), the duchy of Parma - and-Pleasure, the duchy of Urbin (under Médicis).

Charles de Habsbourg, is with the head of a true empire:

By his/her father Philippe the Beautiful, itself wire of Maximilien and Marie of Burgundy (girl of Charles Bold the), it has the Austria, the Seventeen Provinces (Burgundian Netherlands, Flanders, Artois, Franche-Comté, etc).
By his/her mother Jeanne the Insane one (girl of the catholic Kings), it inherits the Spain (unification of the kingdoms of Castille, Aragon and Grenade) and its American possessions, as well as Royaume of Naples.
With died of his/her grandfather Maximilien Ier in 1519, Charles is the favorite for his succession Germanic under Roman Emperor.

Once emperor (1519), Charles has two complementary ambitions:

an personal ambition which is due to him particularly in heart since its Flemish youth, the recovery of the Duché of Burgundy possession of its great-grandfather Charles Bold the. This claim, for which it will never obtain satisfaction, does not rest on any legal basis: the Duché of Burgundy had been received in Apanage by Philippe Bold the of his father Jean the Good. Starting from the moment when this stronghold could not be inherited by a male descendant the apanagist, and that Charles the Bold one, descendant of Philippe the Bold one, had had only one girl, the duchy returned automatically to the royal field of which it was a dismemberment.
an imperial ambition of Europe dominated by Habsbourg, in which he will play the part of defender of the Roman Église.

These two ambitions could only run up against the hostility of François Ier, guard of the integrity of the royal field and king of France to the strong ambitions inherited its predecessors, in particular on the parcelled out territory of Italy of the Rebirth. Like Charles VIII and Louis XII, François will not have of cease to try to install its capacity on the peninsula while starting with the reconquest of the Duché of Milan from which it estimates to hold the rights by its great-grandmother Valentine Visconti, duchess of Milan and wife of Louis of Orleans.

Conquest of the Milanese

Louis XII had had to move back vis-a-vis the attacks of the Sainte League. Little time before the reign of François Ier, two of the essential components of this league returns to better feelings towards the kingdom of France: Henri VIII sign in 1514 and the alliance peace treaty of Turned and the pope Leon X, elected in 1513, considers relations with France less tumultuous than those of his predecessor Jules II. The Treated of Dijon not never having been ratified by Louis XII, François Ier is estimated not held by the clauses envisaging the renunciation of the rights of its family on the Duché of Milan and passes an alliance with the République of Venice. Side of the Holy Germanic Romain Empire, the future Charles Quint is then lord of the Burgundian Netherlands and the emperor Maximilien Ier is concentrated on his diplomacy towards the east (Bohemia, Hungary, Poland and Lithuania). The opposition to the aimings of king de France is thus limited actually to the duke of Milan Maximilien Sforza, officially but slightly supported by the pope, and his ally the Cardinal Matthieu Schiner, craftsman of alliance between the Swiss Cantons and Jules II, and future adviser of Charles Quint.

In spring 1515, François Ier orders the concentration of the troops with Grenoble and an army of 30 000 men walks on Italy. Firmly established with Suze, the Swiss ones hold the usual road of the Mount-Cenis and the army crosses the the Alps by a minor road near to Argentière, including the horses and the artillery (60 bronze guns) with the technical assistance of the officer and military engineer Pedro Navarro. In the plain of the Piedmont, part of the Swiss army takes fear and proposes, the September 8th with Gallarate, to pass to the service of France. Schinner succeeds in regaining the dissidents with his cause and advances at their head to the village of Melegnano (in French, Marignan ), with 16 kilometers of Milan. The battle which begins remainder a long time undecided but the French artillery, effective against the Swiss Fantassin S, the auxiliary forces Venetian and the furia francese end up tipping the scales on the side of François Ier, who carries this decisive confrontation. Contrary to a tough legend but unfortunately apocryphal book (developed as from 1525 for reasons of prestige of a staggering royalty), it is not made arm knight by Bayard on the battle field.

This victory brings famous to king de France to the beginning of its reign. Diplomatic consequences sound many:

François Ier takes the control of Lombardy quickly.
It signs the '' perpetual peace '' of Freiburg on November 29th 1516 with the Swiss cantons. This treaty will remain in force until the end of monarchy in France.
the August 13rd 1516, François Ier and the young person king of Espagnes Charles I {{er}}, future Charles Quint, sign then the Traité Boundary-line which confirms in François Ier the possession of the Milanese, who restores the Navarre with Henri d' Albret and which promises with Charles the hand of the oldest daughter of king de France, Louise, one year old (but which will not survive its third birthday). In the dowry of the future bride are included the rights on the Royaume of Naples.
Antoine Duprat sign on his behalf the Legal settlement of Bologna the August 18th 1516. This legal settlement will govern the relations between the kingdom of France and Papacy until the French revolution. From now on, the king names the bishop S, Archevêque S and cardinal, which is confirmed thereafter by the pope.

The competition for the imperial crown

The January 12th 1519, the death of Maximilien opens the succession with the imperial crown. This crown brings to its holder an addition of prestige and a certain diplomatic weight but does not add any territorial control. Charles I {{er}} of Spain, high from this point of view, is the natural candidate with the succession of his grandfather and must face the king Henri VIII of England, the duke albertin Georges of Saxony, known as Bearded the , and François the Ist candidature of this last answers a double ambition:

Éviter that the sovereign who controls already more half of Europe and the New Iberian World sees haloed of an additional diplomatic prestige and manages to carry out his dream acknowledged to constitute a new empire of Charlemagne.
To assert this addition of prestige for itself, like tried it before him Philippe Bold the and Charles de Valois.

The competition is summarized quickly with a duel François against Charles . To convince the 7sept German Prince-voters, the rivals will use in turn of propaganda and sounding and stumbling arguments. The Austrian party introduces the king of Spain like resulting from true the " tuck " (Chalk-lining), but the key of the election primarily resides in the capacity of the candidates to buy the prince-voters. The ecus French are opposed to the Florin S and German Ducat S and Spanish but Charles profits from the support determining of Jakob Fugger, richissime banking of Augsburg, which emits bill of exchanges payable after the election and provided that Charles of Spain is elected . Charles Quint is elected King of the Romans the June 28th 1519 and is crowned emperor with Aachen the October 23rd 1520. Its currency Always more oultre corresponds to its ambition of universal monarchy of Carolingian inspiration whereas it is already with the head of an empire on which the sun never lies down but nevertheless very heterogeneous.

Burgundy, Italy and Provence

Of course, the imperial election does not alleviate of anything the continual tensions between François Ier and Charles Quint. Important diplomatic efforts are made to constitute or consolidate the network of alliance of each one. In June 1520, François Ier organizes the meeting of the Camp of the Gold Cloth with Henri VIII but fails, probably by excess of ostentation and diplomatic lack of subtlety, to concretize a treaty of alliance with England. On its side, Charles Quint, nephew of the Queen of England, with the assistance of the cardinal Thomas Wolsey with whom it makes gleam rise with the pontificate, obtains the signature of a secret agreement against France with the treaty of Bruges. As Henri VIII liked to underline it, Who I defend is Master .

In the objective to always conquer the Burgundy, the armies of the emperor lead the offensive to north and the south. In 1521, Franz von Sickingen and the count Philippe Ier de Nassau oblige Bayard to be locked up in Mézières besieged which it will defend without capitulating in spite of the cannonades and the attacks. The fate of the weapons is less favorable on the Italian face where the troops of the marshal Odet de Foix, Viscount of Lautrec, are decimated by the army ordered by François II Sforza and Prospero Colonna at the time of the Bataille of the Shack. All the province is raised then in reaction to the oppressive government of the marshal: France loses the Milanese in April 1522.

The year 1523 is also the theater of an initially Franco-French business but whose consequences exceed the borders of the kingdom. The Constable Charles of Bourbon, in hillock since its widowhood (1521) with the operations of François Ier to satisfy the claims of Louise of Savoy on the Bourbonnais and the Viscount of Châtellerault, agrees with Charles Quint and passes to its service to become general lieutenant of its armies.

This defection delays the counter-offensive of François Ist In 1524, Guillaume Gouffier de Bonnivet takes the head of the army which must reconquer Milan but finds Charles of Bourbon on his way, must be withdrawn on the Sesia. Wounded, he entrusts his rear-guard to Bayard, who succumbs itself the April 30th 1524. Way is led to the imperial armies for an invasion by the road of Lyon, offensive recommended by Charles of Bourbon. Charles Quint prefers to attack by Provence and, in August and September 1524, makes put the seat in front of Marseilles, which it fails to take. François Ier benefits to take again the initiative and leads itself from it his army beyond the Alps to arrive the October 28th under the walls of Pavia. The city is defended by Antonio de Leiva and receives the reinforcements of the Vice-roi of Naples, Charles de Lannoy. Badly advised by Bonnivet and in spite of the opinion of Louis of Trémoille, François Ier engages the battles in haste. The artillery, badly positioned, must cease fire under penalty of drawing in the French rows. The army cannot resist the imperial troops; Bonnivet, Palice and Trémoille are killed. François Ier gives his sword to Charles de Lannoy and remains prisoner to the signature, the January 14th 1526, of the treated of Madrid.

Under the terms of this treaty, François Ier must yield the Duché of Burgundy and the Charolais, give up any claim on Italy, Flandres and Artois, reinstate Charles of Bourbon within the kingdom of France and restore his grounds, and marry Éléonore de Habsbourg, sister of Charles. François is released in exchange of his two oldest sons, the dolphin François de France and Henri de France (future Henri II).

Charles Quint does not benefit great from this treaty, that François had judged besides good to declare impracticable his signature day before. The June 8th, the states of Burgundy declare solemnly that the province intends to remain French. In addition, Louise of Savoy not having remained inactive during her regency, a league against the empire is sealed with Cognac, in which take part France, England, the pope and the Italian principalities (Milan, Venice and Florence). The June 6th 1527, Charles of Bourbon dies in Rome at the time of its bag by the imperial troops under its command. These circumstances which seem to rebalance the forces bring Charles Quint and François Ier to leave Marguerite of Austria, aunt of the emperor, and Louise of Savoy, mother of the king, to negotiate a treaty which amends that of Madrid: the August 3rd 1529, with Cambric, is signed the " Peace of the Ladies " , which will be ratified by the two sovereigns. François Ier marries Éléonore widow of the king of Portugal, sister of Charles, recovers his children with the help of a ransom of 2.000.000 ecus and guard Burgundy; on the other hand, it gives up Artois, the Flanders and its sights on Italy.

New alliances: Protestant princes and Ottoman Empire

In fact, François Ier does not give up his claims and opens with new alliances some little surprising for a very Christian king .

François Ier intends to benefit from the internal dissensions from the Empire and sign, the October 26th 1531 with Saalfeld, a treaty of alliance with the Ligue of Schmalkalden. France did not join the league but promises an financial aid.

Outside the Empire, François Ier means with the Othoman of Soliman the Magnificent the to fight Charles Quint. No treaty of alliance itself is signed between France and the Othomans, but a close co-operation makes it possible the two powers to effectively fight the Spanish fleet in the Mediterranean with the great scandal of Christian Europe. Let us stress that François Ier uses of an intermediary to discuss with the sultan: it is about one of the first known cases of the use of diplomats to negotiate and not transmit a simple message. This one, by precaution, is nevertheless imprisoned during one year with Istanbul.

In 1535, France becomes the first European power to obtain commercial privileges in Turkey known as capitulations . Those authorize the French ships to sail freely in Othoman water under the fleurdelized house and each ship pertaining to the other countries with the obligation to beat French house and to require the protection of the French consuls to trade. In addition to that, France obtained the right to have a vault of embassy in Istanbul in the district Galata. These privileges also ensure a certain protection of France on the catholic populations of the Ottoman Empire.

Last Italian and Burgundian attempts

The emperor and the pope end up levelling their disagreements: in 1530, with Bologna, Charles Quint receives the imperial crown of the hands of Clément VII. August 7th, François Ier marries the sister of Charles Quint, Éléonore de Habsbourg, widow of King Emmanuel I {{er}} of Portugal.

In 1535, with died of the duke of Milan François II Sforza, François Ier asserts the heritage of the duchy. At the beginning of 1536, 40.000 French soldiers invade the Duché of Savoy and stop at the border lombarde, in waiting of a possible negotiated solution. In June, Charles Quint response and the Provence invades but runs up against the defense of the constable Anne de Montmorency. Thanks to the intercession of the pope Paul III, elected in 1534 and in favor of a reconciliation between the two sovereigns, the king and the emperor sign in 1538 with Nice a two years truce and promise to be linked vis-a-vis the Protestant danger. As a sign of good will, François Ier authorizes even the unrestricted passage through France so that Charles Quint can go to subdue an insurrection in Ghent.

Charles Quint having refused, in spite of its engagements, the nomination of the Duchy of Milan to one of wire of the king, a new war bursts in 1542. The April 11th 1544, François de Bourbon-Cop, count d' Enghien, with the head of the French troops, demolishes the marquis Alfonso de Avalos, lieutenant general of the armies of Charles Quint with the Bataille of Cérisoles. However, imperial troops, with more: 40000 men and 62 pieces of artillery, crossed the Lorraine, the Three bishoprices and crossed the border. Mid-July, part of the troops besieges the fortified town of Saint-Dizier, while the large one of the army continues its walk towards Paris. Serious financial problems prevent the emperor from balancing his troops, where the desertions multiply. On his side, François Ier must also face the lack of financial resources as to the pressure of the English who besiege and take Boulogne-sur-Mer. The two sovereigns end up granting a final peace in 1544. The treaty of Crépy-in-Laonnois reiterates the essence of the truce signed in 1538. France loses its suzerainty on the Flanders and Artois and gives up in its claims on the Milanese and Naples, but temporarily preserves Savoy and Piedmont. Charles Quint gives up Burgundy and its dependences and gives one of his/her daughters in marriage, equipped with the Milanese in prerogative, with Charles, Duc of Orleans and second wire of the king.

Personal relations with Charles Quint

Although François Ier and Charles Quint are hardly appreciated, they testify in public all the respect which is essential at the time of official visits. Thus, François Ier receives several times Charles Quint, in particular in Louvre, just before work of new Louvre does not start. In January 1540, Charles Quint requiring of François Ier to let it cross France to subdue a revolt in Flandres, is received by the king and, accompanied by this one, makes an entry with Paris, after being last by Bordeaux, Poitiers, and Orleans. He visits Fontainebleau thus, where François Ier makes him discover the new recently completed gallery. The political communication and the diplomacy are thus set up out of tool of parade aiming at impressing the adversary.

The two Heads of State also seek to create family ties to give a feeling of peace and agreement. François Ier offers his daughter Louise (dead in low age) in marriage to Charles Quint, and this last is at the origin of the marriage of his/her Éléonore sister with François Ier in 1530. But this conflict between France of Valois and the Spain of Habsbourg goes perdurer several generations until in the 1756. unpopularity of Marie Antoinette will come partly from this long competition between the Houses of France and Austria.

North America

When François Ier reaches the capacity, France is hardly interested in the great discoveries and limit its tours maritime with the actions of smugglings and the acts of piracy on the African coast. However, France has all the assets of a colonial and naval great power: equipped with a long maritime frontage, many ports and sailors of quality. Nevertheless, the predecessors of François Ier will privilege the Mediterranean conquests.

It is thus under the reign of François Ier that the first French passion for Americas takes place. Thus, the Dieppois Jean Ango, provided with about thirty ships, recognize the coasts of Newfoundland, go down to the Brésil, then in Guinea, and continuous until Sumatra. In 1522, one of its captains, Jean Fleury, intercepts two Spanish caravels coming from the Mexico transporting the treasures offered by the Cortes to Charles Quint. This discovery makes become aware at the court of France of the importance of the new world and the richnesses which it can contain. In 1524, François Ier starts to encourage explorations on the other side of the Atlantic. It takes under its aegis the Florentin Giovanni da Verrazano and places at its disposal the royal vessel " Dauphine" , leaving with the capital florentins the care to finance forwarding. Verrazano reaches North America and the Florida, cartography Newfoundland, then founds News-Angouleme (future the New Amsterdam, more known under the name of New York) in homage to the family of king de France before continuing towards Brazil and the Antilles. Its original intention is to find a passage towards the North-West leading directly to the Indies. Its conclusions are eloquent: It is a ground unknown of old, larger than Europe, Africa and almost that Asia . In 1534, Jean the Huntsman, bishop of Lisieux and large chaplain of the king advises in François Ier to send the Malouin Jacques Cartier in forwarding to discover certain islands and country where it is said that it must find great quantity of gold and other rich person things . It is the birth of the News-France.

Left Saint-Malo on April 20th 1534, Cartier crosses the Atlantic in only three weeks. July 24th, it takes possession of the coast of Gaspé, then returns to Saint-Malo on September 5th. Supported by François Ier, it sets out again on May 15th 1535 with the head of three ships. It arrives at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, goes up the river and founds the station of Holy-Cross (future Quebec), then reached a hill which it names Mount-Royal (future Montreal). Gone up with Holy-Cross, the French remain there blocked by the ices between November 1535 and April 1536. Cartier sets out again for France weakened considerably and arrives at Saint-Malo on July 16th 1536. The war with Charles Quint does not facilitate the installation of a new forwarding. To control this province of overseas, François Ier chooses the Languedoc IEN Jean-François of Rocque Roberval, military expert in fortification. Jacques Cartier leaves Saint-Malo on May 23rd 1541 with the head of five ships charged with vivres for two years and transporting several hundreds of men. He founds a colony which he names Charles-Borough with about fifteen kilometers of Holy-Cross. After complications with the Indian populations and a difficult wintering, Cartier decides to regain France. June 8th, it crosses, in Newfoundland, Roberval which only arrives at the colony in July. In October 1543, it is of return in France.

This French attempt in Canada east thus a failure, but the taking possession of North-American territories calls into question the Spanish colonial monopoly and opens prospects for the future, in particular for Samuel de Champlain at the beginning of the 17th century.

Interior policy

Whereas the king sets up in France of many castles, it unbalances the budget of the kingdom seriously. At the end of its reign Louis XII worried already about very expensive François. The father-in-law of the king had left France in economic good health with a monarchy with the capacity reinforced on the capacity of the feudal ones. François Ier continuous to consolidate the influence of the crown on the country but, at the same time, deteriorates the economic situation of the kingdom.

When François Ier reaches the throne of France, its kingdom counts approximately 18 million inhabitants, which makes of them the unified country more populated Europe. 85% of the French population are country-woman, but the Productivité of the agriculture, based primarily on the mixed-farming and cereals, is weak (5 quintals with the hectare), and the shortage, frequent. On the other hand, the horticulture progresses with in particular the culture of carrots, beets, artichokes, melons, cauliflowers and mulberry trees. As for the cities, their growth follows the development of the Artisanat.

The government of François Ier

The reign of François Ier sees a reinforcement of the royal authority providing the foundations of the Absolutisme such as it will be practiced later by Louis XIV.

The court which the king restores with Paris, by building new the Louvre, is the true heart of the capacity. Although surrounded by councils - the the Great Council, the the Council of the parts or the private Council and the the narrow Council , this last in charge of the important decisions of the State -, the king, seems more and more the single source of the authority, arbitrating in last spring the initiatives of the legal and financial administration, choosing and disgracing his favorites, his ministers and his advisers.

At the beginning of his reign, the king maintains in favor several servants of his predecessor: Trains It and Odet de Foix, lord of Lautrec make pass to 4 the number of marshals. Trémoille takes high military responsabilities. It also confirms Florimond Robertet as being the " father of the secretaries of État" . Trains yields to the office of large Master to Artus Gouffier de Boissy, former governor of the king. Guillaume Gouffier de Bonnivet becomes admiral de France in 1517. The cardinal Antoine Duprat, magistrate of middle-class origin becomes Chancelier of France. Lastly, Charles III of Bourbon receives the sword of Connétable. The mother of the king, Louise of Savoy has a considerable influence on the businesses of the country. Raised with the row of duchess, it belongs to the private council of the king and will be named by twice regent kingdom. Until 1541, Anne de Montmorency, named first gentleman of the room of the king, will know the royal favor and a bright political career. François Ier also counts on his advisers the admiral of Annebaut and the cardinal of Tournon for the execution of the financial decisions.

The religion

François Ier is seen like a very Christian king and good catholic. Although it is perhaps not as pious as his Marguerite sister, it requests each morning in its room, communie regularly in the two species and goes of course to the mass after the council of the businesses. François Ier also takes share with the pilgrimages: as of its return of Italy in 1516, it goes to the Holy-Balsam in Provence on the tomb of Marie-madeleine. Later, it leaves to foot with its courtiers to pay homage to the Saint-Shroud with Chambéry.

Whereas the ideas of the Réforme start to be spread in France, François Ier keeps a rather tolerant attitude initially, under the influence of his sister Marguerite de Navarre, carried on the Évangélisme, without rupture with the Church Catholique. The king protects the members from the group of Meaux, persecuted during his absence by the theologists of the Sorbonne and on the councils of his sister names even tutor of her son Charles, Lefèvre d' Étaples which had been exiled because of these persecutions.

On the other hand, as of 1528, the Church of France undertakes actions against the development of the new religion and proposes with reformed the choice between the Abjuration and the punishment. The influence of Marguerite de Navarre is opposed by that of two powerful advisers close to the king: the cardinals Antoine Duprat and François de Tournon.

In front of the acts of vandalism perpetrated against the liturgical objects Roman, François Ier shows relentless and supports the law-suit of reformed. Vis-a-vis the acts iconoclasts, the king takes part personally in the ceremonies intended to erase what is regarded for the time as a crime. Occurs in October 1534 the Affaire of the Wall cupboards, in which François Ier considers the authority royal ridiculed and which accelerates in reaction the process of persecution of the Protesting S and the starter of the wars of religion in France.

The most painful episode of this repression, which tarnishes the end of reign of François Ier, is the massacre of the Vaudois of Luberon, rejoined with the theses of Calvin, of the villages of Cabrières, Mérindol and Lourmarin, villages located on the grounds of the Church. After publication of an edict of the Parliament of Aix in 1540, remained dead letter, François Ier decides to repress in blood the disorders of this community. Thanks to the Galère S of Paulin of the Guard which bring troops of the Piedmont, Jean Maynier, president of the Parliament of Aix, and Joseph d' Agoult, baron d' Ollières, the royal orders with such an enthusiasm carry out that even Charles Quint expresses his emotion of it.

The hardening of the policy of François Ier with regard to the reformed religion is probably also related to the secret agreements make with Charles Quint at the time of the signature of the treaty of Crépy-in-Laonnois, agreements which oblige the king of France to take an active part in the eradication of the Protestant threat in Europe and thus in France. Notwithstanding these agreements, François Ier persists in his policy of support for the Protestant princes of Germany.

French like official language

See also: Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts

In its Castle of Villers-Cotterêts in the Aisne, in 1539, François signs the royal ordinance which makes French the exclusive Official language of the administration and Droit instead of the Latin . The same document forces the priest S to record the Naissance S and to hold up to date a register of the Baptême S. It is the official beginning of the civil statue in France and the first recordings with Filiation with the world.

The financial policy

Constructions prove to be a financial drain whereas the effort of war against Charles Quint mobilizes enormous sums. To face the situation, the king increases the taxes: the size , paid by the peasants, more than is doubled, and the Gabelle , paid on salt, is tripled. Contrary to the majority of predecessors, in particular for the decisions in tax matter, François Ier does not convene the general states during its reign.

François Ier uses also new means for raising funds. He separates from invaluable stones belonging to the crown and alienates royal territories which bring the required funds to him to the financing of its policy.

The king also innovates with the venality of the loads and governmental and fonctionnariaux offices. Thus, of many middle-class men and noble big families reach the highest loads of the State by their only fortune. The most snuffed stations are the notaries and secretaries of the Chancellery of Paris, who write and authenticate the laws. Although he does not misuse the latter means, it is certainly the beginning of a phenomenon intended to develop and thus to weaken later the administration of the country in spite of a more and more centralized capacity.

By the edict of Châteauregnard (May 21st 1539), François Ier also creates the first Loterie of State , on the models of the blancques existing already in several Italian cities.

Lastly, as at the time of the business of the constable Charles of Bourbon, François Ier does not move back in front of the doubtful processes to solve the financial problems of the crown. The example more striking is the lawsuit brought with Jacques of Beaune, baron de Semblançay, principal Intendant of finances since 1518 and shown at the time of a lawsuit brought by the king in 1524, of diversion of the funds intended for the countryside of Italy. Although having succeeded in being justified at the time of this lawsuit, it is stopped in 1527, is shown misappropriation, is condemned to died and carried out to Montfaucon. At the time of its rehabilitation, it appears that it had especially been the wrong to be an important creditor of François Ist.

Strongholds joined together with the crown

Major the part of acquisitions of the royal field are limited to the strongholds of the family of François Ier and his wife, joined together with the crown at the time of its sacring, the such county of Angouleme, set up in duchy and offered to Louise of Savoy, which will give again it with the crown with its death in 1531. In 1523, the field of the king extends to the duchy from Bourbonnais, with the Comté of Auvergne, Clermont, Forez, Beaujolais, the Marche, Mercœur and the Montpensier (the majority of these grounds are confiscated with the constable of Bourbon in 1530 after its treason what is completely unusual for the time.

Psychology of François Ier

According to the various portraits of his contemporaries, by his rigorous education and his correspondence with his family, one knows right now that François Ier is rather intelligent, curious and largely open of spirit, being interested in all without being for as much scholar, ready to discuss all kinds of subjects with an insurance often badly founded, and very courageous, going itself on the battle field and combatant with bravery. It shows however of a marked selfishness of spoiled child, of a lack of implication and an impulsive temperament which is worth to him certain vexations in the art of warfare. While knowing the authority that it owes with God and the image that it represents, François Ier marks a certain rejection for a protocol often too rigorous and takes some freedoms, which makes court of France relaxed an enough place. It imposes sometimes conventions but can pass in addition to the label.

The lightness of François Ier in his life curiale should not occult a true direction of its royal responsibilities. Marino Cavalli, ambassador of Venice of 1544 with 1546, insists, in a report/ratio with the senate, on the will of the French king: As regards the great businesses of the State, peace and war, Its Majesty, flexible in all the remainder, want that the others obey its will; in these cases, he is nobody at the Court, some authority which he has, which dares to show again some His Majesty .

In the victory as at the time of the military setbacks, François Ier is characterized by a badly controlled sharp courage but. It is on the other hand a poor strategist, badly benefitting from the technological innovations of its time. The example of the Bataille of Pavia is edifying: François Ier places his artillery, however one of most powerful of Europe, behind his cavalry, and any effectiveness removes to him thus.

A man loving the women much

During his reign, François Ier does not hide his taste for the courteous pleasures and the inaccuracy. One lends to the king this sentence: “A court without women, it is like a garden without flowers”, showing at which point the king counted on the female presence at the court of France, thus imitating the courses Italian in which the female one was a symbol of grace. Among his mistresses, one can quote Francoise de Foix, countess of Chateaubriant, supplanted by Anne de Pisseleu, duchess of Stamps and young lady of honor of Louise of Savoy to the return of François Ier after his Spanish captivity, or the woman of the lawyer Jean Ferron, called " the beautiful ferronière ". One can also quote the countess of Thoury and even an unknown lady, whose king will have a son, Nicolas d' Estouteville.

Some of these women will not play only the part of mistress of the king. Some of enters will also have a political influence, such Anne de Pisseleu or the countess of Thoury, at the origin of the construction of the castle of Chambord.

Marriages

the May 18th 1514, it marries Claude of France (1499 - 1524), girl of the king Louis XII and Anne of Brittany. It brings in dowry the duchy of Brittany, the Counties of Blois, Coucy, Ast and Monfort as well as the rights to the succession of the duchy of Milan and a cassette of 100.000 ecus gold. She is crowned Reine of France with Saint-Denis on May 10th 1517.
the August 7th 1530, it marries in second weddings Éléonore de Habsbourg (1498 - 1558) sister of Charles Quint, widow of the king Emmanuel I {{er}} of Portugal and girl of Philippe I {{er}} of Habsbourg and of the queen Jeanne I {{Re}} of Castille. Crowned in Saint-Denis in 1531, it will not give children to François Ist

Descent

Claude of France, Ire marries of François Ier, will give rise to seven children of which two will die in low age.

Louise (1515 - 1518), promised in marriage with Charles Quint.
Charlotte (1516 - 1524).
François (February 28th 1518 - August 10th 1536) 1st dolphin known as " of Viennois" , duke of Brittany.
Henri (March 31st 1519 - July 10th 1559). Second dolphin, it succeeds his/her father under the name of Henri II.
Madeleine (August 10th 1520 - July 2nd 1537). She marries Jacques {{Rom|V}}, king d' Écosse (1512-1542).
Charles (January 22nd 1522 - September 9th 1545), duke of Angouleme then duke of Orleans.
Marguerite (June 5th 1523 - September 14th 1574). She marries in 1559 Emmanuel-Philibert (1528-1580), duke of Savoy.

Some attest of an eighth child, Philippe, born in 1524 and died in 1525, which will let believe that Claude of France would have died in layers.

illegitimate Descent:

François Ier also had unknown lady a son who was not legitimated thereafter.

Nicolas d' Estouteville, lord of Villecouvin.

Emblem

Several sources differ as for the origin from the salamander like symbol from François Ier: A tradition would like that François received this emblem of his tutor, Artus de Boisy, which had observed in its pupil, a temperament full with fire, capable of all the virtues, which had sometimes to be revived, sometimes to deaden . But is to forget that one finds already a salamander in the emblem of the count Jean of Angouleme, younger brother of Charles of Orleans, and that a manuscript carried out for Louise of Savoy in 1504, carries to him also a salamander. The thesis according to which the animal was brought to François Ier by Léonard de Vinci is a fictionalized version.

The salamander, generally symbolizes the capacity on fire, therefore on the men and the world. The currency Nutrisco & extinguo (“I of nourished and I extinguish it”), who accompany sometimes this emblem, take all its direction when one refers to the capacity on fire. One finds it on enormously ceilings and walls of the Château of Chambord and that of Fontainebleau, and on the weapons of the city of the Havre and on those of Vitry-le-François like on the logo of the Département of Loir-et-Cher. This a little magic animal is supposed to extinguish bad fires and to poke the goods.

Toponymy

the town of Vitry-le-François preserves the memory of François Ier, who made it rebuild, from where its name.

Franciscopolis is the first name given to the current city of the Havre, whose François Ier decided construction.

There exists many colleges François-I {{er}}, the such colleges of Le Havre and Fontainebleau as well as colleges like those of Villers-Cotterêts and Vitry-le-François.

Quotations

Woman is fickle. And well fol which trusts it .
Because such is our good pleasure.
I would like to see the clause of the will of Adam who excludes me from the division of the world.
I can make noble, I cannot make a large artist.
All is lost, fors the honor.
A court without women, it is like a garden without flowers .

Cinema

François Ier inspired by many scenario writer and actors.

François Ier and Triboulet , the role is held by an unknown actor. This film was carried out by Georges Méliès in 1907 and left as 1908, it is acted of the first film in which this king was represented.
Claude Garry takes again the role in 1910
Aimé Simon-Girard in 1937
Fernandel in 1937 in the film François I {{er}} does not interpret the role of the king but it meets it at the Court.
Sacha Guitry in 1937 in the film Pearls of the crown
Gerard Oury in 1953
Jean Marsh in 1955 in the film If Paris to us were told
Pedro Armendáriz in 1956
Claude Titer in 1962
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu in 1990

See too

Partial sources

Reviews Historia-Set of themes n°101 and 107 having for name the great century of François Ier and Education, culture, Ecology, These kings who very changed were used with the search of data and information, in particular in the parts Biographie and Relation with Charles Quint .
Michelet, Rebirth and Réforme , in its edition " Bouquins" , for " Portrait of François Ier" , in particular " Psychology of François Ier".
Niccolo Tommaseo, Relations of the Venetian ambassadors on the businesses of France at the 16th century , t.1, Paris, Impr. royal, 1838. for " Portrait of François Ier".
Roger Doucet, Study on the government of François Ier in his relationship with the Parliament of Paris , Paris, Champion, 1921-1926, II. for " Policy financière" , and mainly for " strongholds joined together with the couronne".
Lucien Romier, political Origins of the wars of religion , Paris, Perrin, 1914, t.2 for " Interior policy, Religion".
Arlette Jouanna (under the direction), History and dictionary of the wars of religion , Books, 1998. for " Interior policy, Religion".
Rene Guerdan, François Ier , I read, 1986.

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