A compelling, concise biography of the sixteenth-century French king, whose patronage was central to Renaissance art.
 
Francis I of France led one of the most colorful and influential reigns of the sixteenth century. Known as the “knight-king,” he was a chivalric warrior, a strong ruler, and a passionate patron of the arts and the French nobility. While he faced setbacks and took significant risks, Francis left his successor a kingdom that was larger, better governed, and more stable than before.
 
This concise biography paints a vivid portrait of Francis, exploring his achievements, challenges, and enduring legacy. It captures his role in shaping the French Renaissance, blending engaging storytelling with insights drawn from extensive primary research. Cogent and lively, this book provides a clear narrative of Francis’s reign and explains why he is celebrated as France’s great Renaissance monarch.
 

An accessible introduction to the life of this most-venerated saint.
 
This book is an accessible biography of Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan religious order and one of the most venerated figures in Christianity. In it, Michael F. Cusato explores how Francis and his early brothers embraced a life of poverty in solidarity with the lowest ranks of society, preaching a message of justice and dignity for all. He examines how and why Francis’s vision ultimately expanded to embrace non-Christians and Muslims in particular following Francis’s celebrated encounter with the Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil in 1219. Finally, Cusato considers the clash between Francis and newer members of his Order, his reception of the stigmata, and his final years defending his vision among his own brothers, all while living as an exemplar of the gospel life.