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Francis II of France

Fontainebleau, 29 Jan 1544 – Orléans, 15 Dec 1560

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born29 Jan 1544, Fontainebleaunot verified1 source
  • TitleConsort of Scotlandor King of France, 1559–1560not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of France, 1559–1560or Consort of Scotlandnot verified1 source
  • Died15 Dec 1560, Orléansnot verified1 source
  • MotherCatherine de' Medicinot verified1 source
  • FatherHenry II of Francenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 29 Jan 1544

    Born in Fontainebleau

  2. 1559–1560

    King of France

  3. 15 Dec 1560

    Dies in Orléans, aged 16

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

During his lifetime

He lived through 3 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Fontainebleau.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1540s · Francis II is born in Fontainebleau

In the news1545–1552

Plague epidemics devastate the region

Between 1545 and 1552, plague outbreaks caused extreme hardship, leading to deserted towns and citizens walling up infected homes.

What it cost

Meat prices from 1540 to 1549

Between 1540 and 1549, the average price of a pound of beef in the region was 5.5/6 deniers stebler, while veal and mutton cost 5.5/12 deniers stebler per pound.

What people wore

Class-based clothing restrictions

Sumptuary laws in 1549 restricted the middle class from wearing velvet except on petticoats or sleeves, while artisans and peasants were forbidden from wearing velvet or silk entirely.

Daily life

Typical Lorraine Home Layout and Facilities

Lorraine homes of this period typically featured a central hallway, a windowless kitchen with a floor-level fire, and a single heated bedroom for the family. Livestock were often sheltered within the same building, and the attic served as a hayloft.

Work

Typical peasant workday in summer

During the summer, the workday for peasants started as early as 3 am and lasted until dusk, following the agrarian calendar.

Getting around

Daily distance for pack animals

In level country, pack animals carrying heavy loads typically covered 15 to 25 miles in a single day.

At the table

Diet of poor vs. wealthy peasants

While wealthier peasants had access to various meats and fruits, poorer families primarily relied on a basic diet of soup, bread, and cheese. They often drank a local beverage known as picotte instead of wine.