\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \qj\li105\ri195 \f1 \b Francis I\par
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\b0 Born in 1494, Francis, Duke of Valois, became King of France in 1515. A fighter of rare bravery,
a lover of art, and a highly cultivated man, he represents the ideal of the Renaissance nobleman. Surrounding himself with artists, he had a large number of castles built or renovated, especially in the Loire Valley. He attracted to his court the nobles
that he wanted to keep an eye on, promulgated an edict making French the language of administration, and encouraged voyages of exploration, but exhausted the country with a succession of wars against Charles V and failed to put an end to the religious t
