Henry II of France

Henry II of France was the King of France from 1547 until his death in 1559. He was born in 1519 and was the second son of Francis I of France. When Francis I died, Henry became king. He ruled France during the later part of the Renaissance, a period of renewed interest in learning, art, and classical ideas.

Henry II continued many of the policies of his father. One major part of his reign was war. France was involved in long conflicts with the Habsburg family. The Habsburgs ruled large parts of Europe, including Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. Henry II fought against Charles V and later against Charles’s son, Philip II of Spain. These wars were mainly over land and power in Europe, especially in Italy and along France’s borders.

During Henry II’s reign, France gained some important territories. In 1552, Henry took control of the cities of Metz, Toul, and Verdun. These cities were important because they strengthened France’s eastern border. Later, in 1558, French forces captured the port city of Calais from England. Calais had been under English control for over 200 years.

Religion was another major issue during Henry II’s rule. The Protestant Reformation was spreading across Europe. In France, many people became Protestants. These French Protestants were called Huguenots. Henry II remained Catholic and strongly opposed Protestant ideas. He ordered laws that punished people who followed Protestant beliefs. Courts were used to investigate and punish religious dissent, which means disagreement with official beliefs.

Henry II was married to Catherine de’ Medici, an Italian noblewoman. Catherine became an important figure later in French history, especially after Henry’s death. Together, they had several children. Three of their sons later became kings of France. Henry II also had close advisors and nobles who helped him rule, but conflicts between noble families increased during this time.

Henry II died in 1559 after a tournament accident. A tournament was a public event where knights competed in games using weapons. During one such event, Henry was badly injured and later died from the wounds. He was succeeded by his son, Francis II of France. Henry II’s reign ended just before France entered a long period of religious wars.