# Francis I becomes king (1515)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/1515-francis-i-becomes-king
Location: France
Categories: ruler-change

A young Renaissance monarch inherited the throne and immediately renewed the Italian Wars. Within the broader Renaissance & Wars of Religion period, Renaissance monarchy brought Italian wars, humanist culture and overseas exploration. The Reformation then fractured the kingdom, producing decades of civil war between Catholic and Protestant factions. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is Francis I (King of France). Francis I becomes king mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
Francis I becomes king mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy.

Ruler at the time: [Francis I](https://history-france.com/rulers/francis-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Francis I becomes king](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Francis+I+becomes+king&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Francis I becomes king](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Francis+I+becomes+king)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of French history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_French_history)