How did Louise of Savoy influence Francis I?

Louise of Savoy exerted a profound influence on Francis I throughout his life, beginning with his upbringing. Widowed early, she raised Francis alongside his sister, Marguerite, in a cultured court environment. Francis deeply revered his mother, and her influence contributed to his lifelong preference for female companionship, his chivalrous imagination, and a lack of formal discipline in his youth.12

Beyond his personal development, Louise played a critical role in his governance. She served as regent twice during his reign—first during his 1515–16 Italian expedition and again from 1525–26 while he was held captive in Spain. As a trusted advisor and administrator, she actively managed state affairs, including diplomatic efforts to detach Henry VIII from alliances against France. Her political acumen was further demonstrated in 1529 when she negotiated the Treaty of Cambrai, also known as the "Ladies' Peace," which helped secure her son's interests against the Holy Roman emperor Charles V.1