Francis I of France
Francis I was the Renaissance king of France who challenged Habsburg dominance, patronised Leonardo da Vinci, and famously rejected Iberian claims to a monopoly on the New World. He authorised the Verrazzano (1524) and Cartier (1534) expeditions that established French claims to North America.
- Lived: 1494 CE – 1547 CE
- Nationality: french
- Roles: king, head_of_state, patron
