Henry II of France (King of France 1547 – 1559)

Henry II (March 1519 – July 1559) was a monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559. The second son of Francis I, he became Dauphin of France upon the death of his elder brother Francis III, Duke of Brittany, in 1536.  Henry pursued his father’s policies in matter of arts, wars and religion. He persevered in the Italian Wars against the House of Habsburg and tried to suppress the Protestant Reformation even as the Huguenots became an increasingly large minority in France during his reign.

Father:  Francis I of France
Mother:  Claude, Duchess of Brittany
Spouse: Catherine de’ Medici

• Henry III (King of France 1573 – 1575)
• Place des Vosges (Palais Royal )
• Catherine de’ Medici (Queen of France 1547 – 1559)
• Monday 16 November 1643

• Wikipedia article on Henry II of France

• Wikipedia for background, portrait.