Vashchuk L. Renaissance ruler: the image of Francis I Valois according to his ordinances and testimonies of contemporaries.

Dissertation is devoted to complex research of the image of Renaissance ruler Francis I Valois. On the basis of ordinances of the king and narratives of his contemporaries, different facets of the image of the French monarch were reproduced. In dissertation it is shown that the image of Francis I is not coherent and simple, but it has various guises. Contemporaries of Francis I were not all equally able to understand and accept the aspirations and specific actions of the King, which could be explained by their educational attainment, political and religious orientations as well as belonging to a particular country. The first one is the result of self-representation of the king and meaningful action aimed at creating a positive image. Francis I is determined as a forceful and progressive monarch - Renaissance ruler of early modern France. It was found out the important role of conquest of the Paris parliament by Francis I and establishment of control over the University of Paris for the formation of early French absolutism and his image as an absolute monarch.