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BRITTANY - DUCHY OF BRITTANY - FRANCIS II

(1458-1488)

François II (1435-1488) is the grandson of Jean IV. He succeeded Arthur III (1457-1458) and successively paid homage to Charles VII in 1459, and to Louis XI in 1461. He was part of the Ligue de bien public which fought Louis in 1465, then signed peace with the king on December 23, 1465. During the next twelve years, he weaves between the King of France, the Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold and tries to ally himself with the King of England Edward IV in order to preserve Breton independence. He was reconciled with the king in 1475, then in 1477 after the death of Charles before Nancy. After the death of Louis XI, he supported the Duke of Orleans against the Beaujeu in the regency of Charles VIII. It forms a league against France on December 13, 1486. The French invade Brittany and lay siege to Nantes. François was definitively beaten at Saint-Aubin de Cormier on July 28, 1488. He died of grief in September, leaving only two daughters: Anne and Isabeau..