Francis II (1544–1560) and Mary, Queen of Scots

[Blog Real]

Francis II (19 January 1544 – 5 December 1560) was King of France from 1559 to 1560. He was also King of Scotland as the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, from 1558 until his death in 1560.
He ascended the throne of France at age 15 after the accidental death of his father, Henry II, in 1559.
More information: Francis II of France - Wikipedia

Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
Mary married Francis in 1558, becoming queen consort of France from his accession in 1559 until his death in December 1560.
More information: Mary, Queen of Scots - Wikipedia

The King Francis II and his spouse Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.

From Wikipedia: A 19th-century painting of Mary Queen of Scots in the Hermitage, Russia

 

[Biri]

Were they genuinely in love?

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I don't believe that they were "in love" in the mature adult sense, no.

They met as children and grew up together with the understanding that they would one day marry. There was genuine affection; Mary is said to have mourned him deeply and wrote very affecting poetry about him after his premature death.

Did they love one another though? I believe that they did.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

King Francis II initiated various building projects. One of the building projects was the expansion of the Chateau de Fontainebleau.

 

[An Ard Ri]

King Francis II initiated various building projects. One of the building projects was the expansion of the Chateau de Fontainebleau.

The work was carried on into the reigns of Francis II,Charles IX and Henri III but it was at the behest of their mother ,Catherine de Médicis who even ordered a moat to be constructed around the chateau incase the Huguenots tried to capture the king and queen Regent.

 

[Hallo girl]

I am fascinated by her life .

 

[An Ard Ri]

I am fascinated by her life .

Catherine de Médicis or Mary of Scots?

 

[Elly C]

In my case both!

 

[An Ard Ri]

In my case both!

I'm more interested in Catherine than her daughter in law and also in Marie de Guise ,who I believe has been sadly overlooked as a historical figure.
My interest in royalty started with Mary Queen Of Scots
There's an old family tale that my late fathers English family were connected to Mary (My thinking is that they were Catholic and sided or plotted with her and lost their lands/heads )

 

[Elly C]

My interest in Mary came from the film with Vanessa Redgrave. I then read the Antonia Fraser biography and was fascinated by the way her fortunes fluctuated, sometimes due to her own lack of judgement but mainly by the way she was used as a political pawn.
I also recall as a child having a collecting doll of Mary Queen of Scots - I loved her black velvet dress and lace veil!

 

[An Ard Ri]

My interest in Mary came from the film with Vanessa Redgrave. I then read the Antonia Fraser biography and was fascinated by the way her fortunes fluctuated, sometimes due to her own lack of judgement but mainly by the way she was used as a political pawn.
I also recall as a child having a collecting doll of Mary Queen of Scots - I loved her black velvet dress and lace veil!

In the 1971 movie Catherine was played as a ruthless queen Regent by the late French actress Katherine Kath!
Katherine Kath - Mary, Queen of Scots - FamousFix.com post

Unlike some of the more recent portrayals this was a more realistic looking Catherine!

 

[Hallo girl]

Catherine de Médicis or Mary of Scots?

Mary Queen of Scot’s.

 

[An Ard Ri]

During the brief reign of Francis the Auld Alliance between France and Scotland was formally dissolved in July 1560.
The Treaty of Edinburgh was signed after the death of Marie de Guise and the Scottish Queen Regent had been garrisoning Scotland with French Troops to combat the Scottish Protestant Lord.
Catherine de Médicis who was eager to pull French troops from Scotland sent the Bishop of Valence as the French negotiator.
By the terms of the Treaty the French started the withdrawal of their troops and the Scottish Lords implemented the Reformation in Scotland.
Had both Henri II & Marie de Guise both not died I think there could have been a different course of action.