Editing Henry II of France (section)

==Reign==
=== Attitude towards Protestants ===
Henry's reign was marked by the persecution of Protestants, mainly Calvinists known as [[Huguenot]]s. Henry II severely punished them, particularly the ministers, for example by [[burning at the stake]] or cutting off their tongues for uttering [[heresy|heresies]].{{sfn|Baumgartner|1988|pp=114–132}}

Henry II was made a [[Knight of the Garter]] by [[Edward VI|Edward VI, King of England]], in April 1551.{{sfn|Loach|2014|p=107}} By 19 July, after some lengthy haggling concerning the dowry, a betrothal was made between his daughter, [[Elisabeth of Valois|Elisabeth]] and Edward.{{sfn|Loach|2014|p=108}}

The [[Edict of Châteaubriant]] (27 June 1551) called upon the civil and ecclesiastical courts to detect and punish all heretics and placed severe restrictions on Huguenots, including the loss of one-third of their property to informers, and confiscations. The Edict also strictly regulated publications by prohibiting the sale, importation or printing of any unapproved book. It was during the reign of Henry II that Huguenot attempts at establishing a colony in [[Brazil]] were made, with the short-lived formation of {{lang|fr|[[France Antarctique]]}}.{{sfn|Felix|Juall|2016|p=2}} In June 1559, with war against the Habsburgs concluded, Henri established in [[letters patent]] his desire to task much of the [[Gendarme (historical)|Gendarmerie]] that had been involved in the foreign wars with the extirpation of domestic heresy.{{sfn|Harding|1978|p=37}}

===Italian War of 1551–1559===
{{Main|Italian War of 1551–1559}}
[[File:Henri2entranceMetz.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Henry II enters [[Metz]] following the 1552 [[Treaty of Chambord]]]]

The [[Italian War of 1551–1559]] began when Henry declared war on Holy Roman Emperor Charles V with the intent of recapturing Italy and ensuring French, rather than Habsburg, domination of European affairs. Persecution of Protestants at home did not prevent him from becoming allied with German Protestant princes at the [[Treaty of Chambord]] in 1552. Simultaneously, the continuation of his father's [[Franco-Ottoman alliance]] allowed him to invade the [[Rhineland]] while a Franco-Ottoman fleet defended southern France.{{sfn|Inalcik|1995|p=328}} Although an attempted 1553 invasion of [[Tuscany]] ended with defeat at [[Battle of Marciano|Marciano]], in return for his support in the [[Second Schmalkaldic War]], Henry occupied the [[Three Bishoprics]] of [[Prince-Bishopric of Toul|Toul]], [[Prince-Bishopric of Verdun|Verdun]] and [[Prince-Bishopric of Metz|Metz]], acquisitions secured with victory at [[Battle of Renty|Renty]] in 1554.{{sfn|Thevet|2010|p=92}}

After the abdication of Charles V in 1556, the Habsburg empire was split between his son [[Philip II of Spain]] and brother Emperor [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand I]]. The focus of Henry's conflict with the Habsburgs shifted to [[Flanders]], where Philip, in conjunction with [[Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy]], defeated the French at [[Battle of St. Quentin (1557)|St Quentin]]. England's entry into the war later that year led to the French [[Siege of Calais (1558)|capture of Calais]], and French armies plundered the [[Spanish Netherlands]]. However, in April 1559 lack of money and increasing domestic religious tensions led Henry to agree the [[Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis]].{{sfn|Konnert|2006|p=97}}

The Peace was signed between Henry and [[Elizabeth I of England]] on 2 April{{sfn|Nolan|2006|p=127}} and between Henry and Philip of Spain on 3 April 1559 at [[Le Cateau-Cambrésis]]. Under its terms, France restored [[Piedmont]] and [[Savoy]] to Emmanuel Philibert, but retained [[Saluzzo]], [[Calais]] and the Three Bishoprics. The agreement was reinforced by a marriage between Henry's sister [[Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry|Margaret]] and Emmanuel Philibert, while his daughter [[Elisabeth of Valois]] became Philip's third wife.{{sfn|Knecht|2000|p=1}}

Henry raised the young [[Mary, Queen of Scots]], at his court, hoping to establish a dynastic claim to the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] by [[Wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Francis, Dauphin of France|her marriage]] to [[Francis II of France|Dauphin Francis]] on 24 April 1558. Their son would have been King of France and King of Scotland, and also a claimant to the throne of [[Kingdom of England|England]]. Henry had Mary sign secret documents, illegal in Scottish law, that would ensure Valois rule in Scotland even if Mary died without leaving a child by Francis.{{sfn|Guy|2012|p=91}} As it happened, Francis died without issue a year and half after his father, ending the French claim to Scotland.