Henri II (1529-59) inherited the throne from his father, François Ier, in 1547. He continued the latter's attempts at increasing the power of the monarchy, but made the mistake of promoting the Guise family, which was to cause his sons so much difficulty in the Wars of Religion. Henri inherited his father's anti-Habsburg policies, allying himself with the German Protestants and with the Turks. Increasing financial difficulties, as well as the disastrous defeat of Saint-Quentin, led him, however, to make peace with Philip II (Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis). His death in a jousting accident left the monarchy painfully weak at a time when it was facing internal religious and political challenges.
[James Supple]
