Henry II of France died from a stab wound in a jousting tournament.
Henry II ( Henri II 31 March 1519 -- 10 July 1559 ) was a monarch of the House of Valois who ruled as King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559 . Henry suffered an untimely death in a jousting tournament held to celebrate the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis at the conclusion of the Eighth Italian War .