asserting Christianity and making new conversions in the
Portuguese colonies. Traveling via Mozambique he arrived
at Goa in 1542 where he remained for five months. Hav-
ing had some success among the colonists he traveled to
Cochin, Ceylon, Malacca, the Moluccas, and Japan
(1549), before returning to Goa in 1551. He then set right
certain abuses that had developed in his absence and set
sail again, this time with a view to realizing the conversion
of the Chinese empire to Christianity. He is reputed to
have converted many thousands on the way but never ac-
tually reached China, for he died of fever in December
1552 on an island just 30 miles short of his destination.
His body was taken back to Goa, where the imposing Re-
naissance church of Bom Jesus was built (1594–1603)
over his shrine. Although Xavier is popularly considered
to have been the greatest missionary since St. Paul, his
critics believe that his work would have been of more last-
ing effect had he concentrated his mission on a single
colony or country. Together with Ignatius Loyola, he was
canonized in 1622.
Further reading: Georg Schurhamer, St. Francis
Xavier: His Life, His Times, 4 vols (Rome: Jesuit Historical
Institute, 1973–82).
Franck, Sebastian (1499–1542) German theologian and
humanist
Franck was born at Donauwörth and after studying at In-
golstadt and Heidelberg he was ordained priest. In about
1525 he became a Lutheran, but later developed an un-
dogmatic form of religion and argued in favor of freedom
of thought. This antagonized both reformers and tradi-
tionalists in Germany, and he retired to Basle. His major
historical work, Chronica, appeared in 1531 and an index
to the Bible in 1539. He also produced German versions of
an anti-Anabaptist tract (1528) and of Erasmus’s PRAISE OF
FOLLY(1534). Die deutschen Sprichwörter (1541) was a
major compendium of German proverbs.
François I style A trend in the visual arts in France ini-
tiated during the reign (1515–47) of Francis I. An enthu-
siastic patron of the arts, Francis modeled himself upon
the Italian princes and actively encouraged the adoption
of the ideals of the Italian Renaissance, chiefly through the
building and decoration of a number of major French
châteaux. Italian artists such as ROSSO FIORENTINO,
LEONARDO DA VINCI, and PRIMATICCIOwere brought to
France to work at BLOIS, CHAMBORD, FONTAINEBLEAU, and
elsewhere, providing the impetus for a national style in-
corporating both Gothic and humanist elements. As well
as the châteaux, other works from this period in which
this fusion of styles can be detected include tapestries,
paintings, and furniture.
Franco, Veronica (1546–90/1) Venetian courtesan, poet,
and letterwriter
She was briefly married to a doctor, but he died young
leaving her with a son, by which time she had already em-
barked on her professional life. This came to epitomize
the cultured and refined lifestyle of courtesans of 16th-
century Venice, many of whom became well-known pub-
lic figures. Franco counted numerous aristocrats among
her clients and personal correspondents and was painted
by TINTORETTO. Her sonnets and erotic love poems, many
in epistolary form, were published as Terze rime (1575).
These celebrated her independent life in unrepentant fash-
ion, urging other women not to be submissive. However,
her Lettere (1580) reveal a more somber view of the vul-
nerabilities of the courtesan dependent on the patronage
of rich men and constantly preoccupied with fear of losing
her looks. Prompted by such thoughts, Franco advocated
the establishment of charitable refuges for aging courte-
sans; the first one opened in 1591.Frankfurt(-am-Main) A city in western Germany on the
River Main. Celtic in origin, the site became a Roman set-
tlement; its name, which dates from the early sixth cen-
tury, means “crossing of the Franks.” In the late Middle
Ages Frankfurt prospered on account of its trade fairs
(from 1240) and it became an international commercial
center during the Renaissance, in particular of the BOOK
TRADE. Its stock exchange was founded in 1585. Despite
its prosperity the city retained its rural character until the
16th century. Frankfurt became an imperial free city in
1372 and was an important base of Hapsburg power by the
late 15th century. In 1485 the imperial Diet met there, and
in 1519 it was the scene of the election of Emperor
CHARLES V. Later the city joined the Lutheran cause until
it was forced into submission by Charles (1546).Franqueville, Pierre See FRANCAVILLA, PIETROFrederick III (1415–1493) Holy Roman Emperor
(1452–93)
The son of Duke Ernest of Styria and Carinthia, Frederick
was born in Innsbruck; on his father’s death (1424) he was
brought up by his uncle, Count Frederick of Tyrol. From
1435 he was coruler with his brother Albert (died 1463)
of Styria and Carinthia. In 1440 he was chosen German
king but his alliance with the papacy through the Concor-
dat of Vienna (1448), which was engineered by the future
Pope PIUS II, occasioned great discontent among his sub-
jects, who resented his pledge of their obedience to Rome.
Nonetheless Frederick was crowned emperor in Rome by
Pope Nicholas V in 1452.
Friction with his brother Albert and incursions by his
neighbors, the most dangerous of them MATTHIAS CORVI-
NUSof Hungary, caused Frederick to seek to establish his
position by an alliance with Duke CHARLES THE BOLDofFFrreeddeerriicckk IIIIII 1 19933