Francis II was the last monarch of the House of Valois and the first king of France from the House of Bourbon. He was also known as François, Francis Stephen or François III. His reign was short-lived, spanning only from 1559 until 1560. During his rule, he faced a series of challenges ranging from religious conflicts to economic struggles. Some other synonyms for Francis II include King Francis, Francis the Second, and Francis de Valois. He is best remembered for his famous marriage to Mary Queen of Scots, which paved the way for a closer alliance between France and Scotland.