Francis I of France
Biography
Francis won a great victory at Marignano in his first year and spent much of his reign fighting Charles V for dominance in Italy. Captured at Pavia in 1525, he was held in Madrid until he agreed to a harsh treaty he later repudiated. He brought Leonardo da Vinci to France, built the chateau of Chambord, and founded what became the College de France. The Ordinance of Villers-Cotterets made French the language of official documents.
Related Monarchs
Charlemagne
768-814Charles the Great united most of Western Europe for the first time since Rome. Crowned Imperator by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day ...
Louis XIV of France
1643-1715Louis ruled personally from 1661 after Mazarin death, Létat cest moi attributed. Versailles, the hunting lodge turned palace, dome...
Louis XVI of France
1774-1792Well meaning but indecisive, Louis convened the Estates General 1789, first since 1614, over bankruptcy. The Revolution swept past...
Napoleon I of France
1804-1814,1815Artillery officer of Corsica, revolutionary general, first consul after 18 Brumaire, emperor 1804. The Code Civil, meritocracy, le...