François I de Pologne

## Biography

### Full Name

François Louis Sébastien Xavier César de Angoulêmvauire(Polish: Franciszek Ludwik Sebastian Ksawery Cezar)

### Born

30th April 1667
Palais des Tuileries, Quartier de Regiae, Île-de-France, Angoulêmvauire

### Died

22nd February 1709
(aged 41) Zamek Królewski w Warszawie, Kingdom of Poland

### Burial

29th February 1709
Katedra Wawelska, Poland-Lithuania (heart);
21st November 1714
Nécropole Impériale de Saint-Denis, Angoulêmvauire (body)

### Spouse

Marie-Anne Victoire de Bavière (m. 1684 – 1709)

### Issue

Louis François Constantin, *Królewicz* de Pologne
Françoise-Marie Casimire, Princesse de Pologne †
Marie-Thérèse Romaine, Princesse de Pologne †

### Siblings

Marie-Constance Léopoldine, Grande Princesse Impériale de Aquitaine
Philippe Pétrone, Impérial Couronne-Prince de Bourgogne †
Marie-Louise Victoire,
Reine d'Espagne †
Marie-Catherine Amélie,
Électrice de Bavière
Philippe V, Roi d'Espagne
Élisabeth-Charlotte Justine, Duchesse de Parme

### Religion

Roman Catholicism

**François I** (François Louis César; Polish: Franciszek Ludwik Cezar; Lithuanian: Pranciškus Liudvikas Cezaris; 30th April 1667 – 22nd February 1709) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1697 until his demise in 1709.

Born at the Tuileries Palace, he was the second eldest surviving son of Justinien XII & III, the revered Emperor of Angoulêmvauire, and his second wife, Marie-Thérèse d’Autriche. At birth, he received the traditional *Duchy of Orléans* in apanage due to being the second son of the monarch. Throughout much of his early life—before his accession to the Polish throne, François was positioned as second in line to the imperial throne. Often accounted for by virtue of his circumstances, François was never surmised to accomplish much outside of his confined status as “spare heir” apart from becoming the eventual *Monsieur* at court. Thus, François became instead a withdrawn and staid figure, often overseeing courtly events and receptions, but never daring to intervene in overtly malignant affairs. His strict adherence to a rather lackluster, impartial, and passive life earned him a reputation as an inscrutable presence and the sobriquet “*The Phantom Monsieur.*"

However, in spite of his muted demeanor, François was considered as an amiable and gregarious man by close contemporaries. A considered favorite of his father, François discerned himself as a bastion of morally upright behavior and restrained etiquette, his mannerisms contrasting the numerous conducts made by his notorious elder brother, Philippe Pétrone. His modesty, soundness, and temperance perpetually acts as an equipoise to his brother’s infamous hedonism, debauchery, and spendthrift ideals. The dichotomy between the brothers afflicted the court with a factionalized plight, dividing the Louvre court into two coteries each with their own support towards one of either princes. The imperial line succession at that time was even questioned of a plausible alteration, with rumors materializing among coutiers of his father’s intention of having François superseding Philippe as heir apparent. This brief melodrama would soon extinguished into a foregone debacle as François was offered the Crown of Poland by his father in 1697, primarily through the means of bribery efforts lead by Cardinal Melchior de Polignac during the Polish election. He agreed to the offer, and was formally proclaimed King of Poland by Cardinal Michal Radziejowski.