Francis II, Duke of Brittany
| Francis II | |
|---|---|
Sculpture of Francis II on his Tomb in Nantes.
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| Duke of Brittany | |
| Reign | 26 December 1458 – 9 September 1488 |
| Coronation | 3 February 1459 |
| Predecessor | Arthur III |
| Successor | Anne |
| Born |
23 June 1433 Château de Clisson, Clisson |
| Died | 9 September 1488 (aged 55) Couëron |
| Burial | Nantes Cathedral |
| Consort |
Margaret of Brittany Margaret of Foix |
| Issue | John, Count of Montfort Anne of Brittany Isabeau of Brittany |
| House | House of Dreux-Montfort |
| Father | Richard, Count of Étampes |
| Mother | Marguerite d'Orléans |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Francis II of Brittany (in Breton Frañsez II, in French François II) (23 June 1433 – 9 September 1488) was Duke of Brittany from 1458 to his death. He was the son of Richard of Brittany and the grandson of Duke John IV. A recurring theme in Francis' life would be his quest to maintain the quasi-independence of Brittany from France. As such, his reign was characterised by conflicts with King Louis XI of France and with his daughter, Anne of France, who served as regent during the minority of her brother, Charles VIII. The armed and unarmed conflicts between 1484-1488 have been called the Mad War (la Guerre Folle) and also the War of the Public Weal.
Francis II was born on 23 June 1433 to Richard, Count of Étampes and his wife Marguerite d'Orléans. Richard was the youngest son of John IV, Duke of Brittany. Richard's older brothers John and Arthur both succeeded their father as duke, but upon Arthur's death in 1458, the only legitimate male heir was his nephew, Francis.
Francis II serendipitously became the protector of England's House of Lancaster in exile from 1471-1484.
During the latter half of the 15th century, civil war existed in England as the Houses of York and Lancaster fought each other for the English throne. In 1471, the Yorkists defeated their rivals in the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury. The Lancastrian King Henry VI and his only son, Edward of Lancaster, died in the aftermath of the Battle of Tewkesbury. Their deaths left the House of Lancaster with no direct claimants to the throne. The Yorkist king, Edward IV, was in complete control of England. He attainted those who refused to submit to his rule, such as Jasper Tudor and his nephew Henry, naming them as traitors and confiscating their lands.
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