Which members of Francis I’s court supported the Reformation?

During the reign of Francis I, a circle of moderate humanists initially showed interest in religious reform, inspired by a desire to return to the original sources of the Christian faith. This group, centered around the scholar Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples, included several notable figures associated with the court:12

• Margaret of Angoulême: The king’s own sister, who was a prominent member of this humanist circle.12
• Guillaume Briçonnet: The bishop of Meaux, who participated in the group's efforts toward orthodox reform.12
• Gérard Roussel: A mystic who was also part of this reform-minded circle.12

While these individuals supported moderate, orthodox reform in the tradition of Desiderius Erasmus, this circle was dispersed by 1525. Francis I’s own stance toward the Reformation was complex; while he was initially sympathetic to humanist reform, he later adopted a policy of persecution, particularly after the 1534 posting of anti-Catholic placards, as he feared the social upheaval associated with more extreme religious movements.12