Francis II, Duke of Brittany

Francis II (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 Count Richard of Etampes and the grandson of the late Duke John V. Francis' life was characterised by conflicts with King Louis XI of France (War of the Public Weal) and with his son King Charles VIII. Francis II was married twice, first to his cousin Marguerite of Brittany, first daughter of Du... more

Francis II (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 Count Richard of Etampes and the grandson of the late Duke John V. Francis' life was characterised by conflicts with King Louis XI of France (War of the Public Weal) and with his son King Charles VIII. Francis II was married twice, first to his cousin Marguerite of Brittany, first daughter of Duke Francis I, then to Margaret of Foix, princess of Navarre. Only one daughter, Anne of Brittany, from his second marriage, survived to adulthood. Francis also had three bastard children with Antoinette de Maignelais, who had been the mistress of Charles VII of France before. During the minority of Charles VIII of France, Francis II, anxious to maintain his duchy's independence, aligned himself with the Duke of Orleans and the count of Angouleme against the regency of Anne of France, who had been pursuing the same underhand politics as her... less