Francis

Francis, French prince, duke of Alençon and Anjou

Francis, 1554–84, French prince, duke of Alençon and Anjou; youngest son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. Although ill-shapen, pockmarked, and endowed with a curiously formed nose, he was considered (1572–73) as a possible husband for Queen Elizabeth I of England. During the Wars of Religion (see Religion, Wars of), he opposed the anti-Protestant policy of his mother and conspired with Huguenots and moderate Catholics against his mother and his brother, King Charles IX. By the peace of 1576, which ended the fifth war of religion, he obtained the appanages of Anjou, Touraine, and Berry. He led (1578) an expedition into the Netherlands, which was then in rebellion against Spain. In the same year, he was again prominent as Elizabeth's suitor. Offered (1580) the rule of the Low Countries by William the Silent, leader of the rebellious states, he led a new invasion and was for a time the ruler of several provinces, but in 1583 was compelled to withdraw. His death opened the French succession to Henry of Navarre (later King Henry IV).

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Francis

1. Dick, full name Richard Stanley Francis. born 1920, British thriller writer, formerly a champion jockey. His books include Dead Cert (1962), The Edge (1988), and Come to Grief (1995)

2. Sir Philip. 1740--1818, British politician; probable author of the Letters of Junius (1769--72). He played an important part in the impeachment of Warren Hastings (1788--95)

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Francis 

In the Holy Roman Empire:

Francis I. Born Dec. 8, 1708, in Nancy; died Aug. 18, 1765, in Innsbruck. Emperor (1745–65).

Francis was duke of Lorraine (as Francis III or Francis Stephen) from 1729 to 1736. When Lorraine was given to Stanislaw Leszczyński in 1737, Francis was compensated with the grand duchy of Tuscany. He married Maria Theresa in 1736; in 1740 he became coruler with her over the hereditary Austrian lands. Together they founded the Hapsburg-Lorraine line of the Austrian royal house. Francis became emperor during the War of the Austrian Succession.

Francis II. Born 1768; died 1835. Last Holy Roman emperor (1792–1806). Emperor of Austria (as Francis I) from 1804.