
Charles V and the Failure of Empire
Tides of History
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The Uncertainty of Francis I
Francis I was the King of France when Charles VIII died in 1498. He had a hand in practically every bad thing that happened to the Emperor. Francis' father's cousin, Louis XII, was both the leading nobleman in the kingdom and the closest male relative of the now-deceased king. As luck would have it, Francis was actually his closest living heir.
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