Francis I: The Knight-King

A compelling, concise biography of the sixteenth—century French king, whose patronage was central to Renaissance art.

Francis I of France led one of the most colorful and influential reigns of the sixteenth century. Known as the “knight—king,” he was a chivalric warrior, a strong ruler, and a passionate patron of the arts and the French nobility. While he faced setbacks and took significant risks, Francis left his successor a kingdom that was larger, better governed, and more stable than b...