Catherine de Medici Her essentially moderate influence was first perceptible during the Conspiracy of Amboise (March 1560), an instance of tumultuous petitioning by the Huguenot gentry, primarily against Guisard persecution in the name of the King. The treaty became known as the Peace of Monsieur because it was thought that Francis had forced it on the crown. Elisabeth had died, in a most Christian manner dressed in the habit of Saint-Franois, preceded to heaven by the child she carried who had received the holy water of the sacred baptism. Upon hearing the news of her daughters death, Catherine withdrew without a word to her private chapel. Catherine, in bed with a lung infection, had been kept in the dark. Catherine was overjoyed at the match, but her joy was overshadowed by the death of her husband. She was educated by nuns in Florence and in Rome. She even encouraged the king to spend more time with Catherine and sire more children. Catherine de Medici Inquisition was where he made his one and only cameo. WebClarissa Delacroix was born in 1539, the illegitimate daughter of Queen Catherine de Medici of France and King Henry II of Frances boyhood friend Richard Delacroix. She shared the same birthmark as her father, so Catherine had Nostradamus' father, a physician, attempt to remove the birthmark from Clarissa. [52] On 1 March 1562, however, in an incident known as the Massacre of Vassy, the Duke of Guise and his men attacked worshipping Huguenots in a barn at Vassy (Wassy), killing 74 and wounding 104. How old was Catherine de Medici when she got married? For the next ten days, Henry's state fluctuated. They formed an alliance with England and seized town after town in France. WebCatherine and Clarissa have a very complicated relationship. WebBorn into the one of the great families of the Italian Renaissance, Clarice Orsini was the daughter of Jacopo Orsini of Monterotondo, a man whose family had made its fortune as mercenaries. Although Catherine spent ruinous sums on the arts,[133] most of her patronage left no permanent legacy. They depict events held at Fontainebleau in 1564; at Bayonne in 1565 for the summit meeting with the Spanish court; and at the Tuileries in 1573 for the visit of the Polish ambassadors who presented the Polish crown to Catherine's son Henry of Anjou. She shared the same birthmark as her father, so Catherine had Nostradamus' father, a physician, attempt to remove the birthmark from Clarissa. [148] Nevertheless, Catherine was never formally accused or prosecuted despite the fact that her reign experienced the greatest number of prosecutions for witchcraft in Italy. A poem by Ronsard, engraved on its base, tells the reader not to wonder that so small a vase can hold so large a heart, since Henry's real heart resides in Catherine's breast.[132]. [41] When the Guises heard of the plot,[42] they moved the court to the fortified Chteau of Amboise. When King Francis I died on 31 March 1547, Catherine became queen consort of France. From this time dates the legend of the wicked Italian queen. [141] An infertile woman, and in particular an infertile queen, was therefore regarded as 'unnatural' and a small step from supernatural. WebDuring this time, Catherine had an affair with Richard, and had a baby girl with him, who became the castle 'ghost', Clarissa. The problems facing the monarchy were complex and daunting. Diane and Catherine Clarissa Delacroix "[100], Henry was unable to fight the Catholics and the Protestants at once, both of whom had stronger armies than his own. Where was Catherine de Medici born and raised? [9] Leo made Catherine Duchess of Urbino but annexed most of the Duchy of Urbino to the Papal States, permitting Florence to keep only the Fortress of San Leo. Artistic, energetic, and extraverted, as well as discreet, courageous, and gay, Catherine was greatly esteemed at the dazzling court of Francis I, from which she derived both her political attitudes and her passion for building. [110] Immediately after the murder of Guise, Henry entered Catherine's bedroom on the floor below and announced, "Please forgive me. Catherine delayed her daughters departure as much as she could, but they finally set out of for Spain on 18 November 1559. Jeanne d'Albret wrote to her son, Henry: "I am not free to talk with either the King or Madame, only the Queen Mother, who goads me [, Holt, 83. [75] A smoking arquebus was discovered in a window, but the culprit had made his escape from the rear of the building on a waiting horse. Margaret, however, was secretly involved with Henry of Guise, the son of the late Duke of Guise. [89] Catherine wrote, the next day: "I am so wretched to live long enough to see so many people die before me, although I realize that God's will must be obeyed, that He owns everything, and that He lends us only for as long as He likes the children whom He gives us. It is essential to understand this in order to discern the coherence of her career. She herself supervised their education. Religious reconciliation was the conveners purpose of the Colloquy of Poissy (SeptemberNovember 1561). The death of Pope Leo in 1521 briefly interrupted Medici power until Cardinal Giulio de' Medici was elected Pope Clement VII in 1523. [35] There is reason to believe she was party to the decision when on 23 August Charles IX is said to have ordered, "Then kill them all! Its principal purpose was to execute the edict and, through a meeting at Bayonne in June 1565, to seek to strengthen peaceful relations between the crown and Spain and to negotiate for Charless marriage to Elizabeth of Austria. [122], Many of Caron's paintings, such as those of the Triumphs of the Seasons, are of allegorical subjects that echo the festivities for which Catherine's court was famous. The Untold Truth Of Catherine De Medici Some sources claim that Victoire was the one who was stillborn. [74] The wedding took place on 18 August 1572 at Notre-Dame, Paris. She also met her daughter Elisabeth at Bayonne near the Spanish border, amidst lavish court festivities. The Huguenots retreated to the fortified stronghold of La Rochelle on the west coast, where Jeanne d'Albret and her fifteen-year-old son, Henry of Bourbon, joined them. [82], Two years later, Catherine faced a new crisis with the death of Charles IX at the age of twenty-three. Thenceforth the problem of religion was one of power, public order, and administration. She died on January 5th, 1589 in Blois France. She later kidnapped her half-brothers, Princes Charles and Henry, and attempted to drown them to punish her mother for abandoning her, but Mary hit Clarissa in the head with a rock, believing her to be dead. However, the death of her uncle Clement on 25 September 1534 undermined Catherine's standing in the French court. In October 1586, therefore, he had Margaret locked up in the Chteau d'Usson. According to the diplomat Simon Renard, the birth nearly killed Catherine,[150] and the royal couple were advised by the King's physician to have no further children. Victoire died just under two months later on 17 August. Did Queen Catherine of France have a deformed daughter? Catherine de Medici, wife to one French king and mother to three more, died at Blois in 1589. She is portrayed by Rebecca Liddiard. Piero II de Medici+ b. L'Estoile wrote: "those close to her believed that her life had been shortened by displeasure over her son's deed. Over the years, Catherine gave birth to ten children of which five were daughters. At the meeting of the Estates, Henry thanked Catherine for all she had done. She wrote to her daughter Elisabeth: "My principal aim is to have the honour of God before my eyes in all things and to preserve my authority, not for myself, but for the conservation of this kingdom and for the good of all your brothers". He often hid from state affairs, immersing himself in acts of piety, such as pilgrimages and flagellation. She was buried, but she went on to escape from her gravesite. Catherine succeeded in obtaining the regency for Charles IX, with Antoine de Bourbon, king of Navarre and first prince of the blood, as lieutenant general, to whom the Protestants vainly looked for leadership. Catherine sent Pomponne de Bellivre to Navarre to arrange Margaret's return. She is the younger half-sister of Clarissa and Sebastian, the younger sister of Francis, Louis, Elisabeth, Claude, Charles, Henry, Henrietta and Emone. However, she was never in a position to control the country as a whole, which was on the brink of civil war. "[68] Catherine called Jeanne, whose decision to rebel posed a dynastic threat to the Valois, "the most shameless woman in the world". What happened to King Francis of France mother? Catherine, who was said to have received the news without emotion, made a tearful visit to Coligny and promised to punish his attacker. [10], Catherine was first cared for by her paternal grandmother, Alfonsina Orsini. They were usually dedicated to the ideal of peace in the realm and based on mythological themes. The last two daughters were twins; one of the twins, Joan, died during the delivery and the other, Victoire, died a few weeks later. Anyone who tells you differently is a liar. Possibly Catherines most concrete achievement was the Edict of January 1562, which followed the failure of reconciliation. Within a month of Catherine's birth, both her parents were dead: Madeleine died on 28 April of puerperal fever, and Lorenzo died on 4 May. Catherine, Diane, and Prince Francis all fainted. Huguenot writers later accused Catherine of murdering her with poisoned gloves. When Catherine found this out, she had her daughter brought from her bed. WebPrincess Claude of Valois was born on November 12, 1547 in Fontainebleau, France, as the 2nd daughter & 3rd child born to King Henry II & his wife Queen Catherine de Medici. [58] On 19 March 1563, the Edict of Amboise, also known as the Edict of Pacification, ended the war. For the next two years Catherines policy was one of peace and general reconciliation. It is also necessary to understand this political struggle of the Catholic crown with its own ultramontane extremists and to perceive its fluctuations in changing circumstances, in order to realize the fundamental consistency of Catherines career. Through the intervention of Doctor Jean Fernel, the royal couple went on to have 10 children. They chose therefore to strike first and wipe out the Huguenot leaders while they were still in Paris after the wedding. Catherine asked Henry to act before Margaret brought shame on them again. His choice thwarted Catherine's plans for a political marriage to a foreign princess. From that day, Catherine took a broken lance as her emblem, inscribed with the words "lacrymae hinc, hinc dolor" ("from this come my tears and my pain"), and wore black mourning in memory of Henry.[36]. It was designed by Francesco Primaticcio (15041570), with sculpture by Germain Pilon (15281590). The Venetian ambassador, Gerolamo Lipomanno, wrote: "She is an indefatigable princess, born to tame and govern a people as unruly as the French: they now recognize her merits, her concern for unity and are sorry not to have appreciated her sooner. Margaret had put up a good show for the Queen and Joan wrote enthusiastically to her son with one point, If she embraces our religions, I may say that we are the happiest persons in the world Margaret could not have opposed this match with Henry more, but it was going to happen whether she wanted or not. As a Farnese he felt no obligation to keep Clement's promises, broke the alliance with Francis and refused to continue paying her huge dowry. His designs for the Valois Tapestries celebrate the ftes, picnics, and mock battles of the "magnificent" entertainments hosted by Catherine. The years during which her sons reigned have been called "the age of Catherine de' Medici" since she had extensive, if at times varying, influence in the political life of France.[1]. The last two daughters were twins; one of the twins, Joan, died during the delivery and the other, Victoire, died a few weeks later. [92] Her role in his government became that of chief executive and roving diplomat. I began this website in 2013 because I wanted to share these women's amazing stories. She had always enjoyed her visits to Claude, and now that would never be the same. "[106] As usual, Catherine advised the king, who had fled the city in the nick of time, to compromise and live to fight another day. Author of. Catherines first great political crisis came in July 1559 upon the accidental death of Henry II, a traumatic bereavement from which it is doubtful that she ever recovered. [53] Guise, who called the massacre "a regrettable accident", was cheered as a hero in the streets of Paris while the Huguenots called for revenge. "[136][139], Catherine de' Medici has been labelled by Wiccan Gerald Gardner a "sinister Queen noted for her interest in the occult arts". Clarissa Delacroix(1539-1557) was the illegitimate daughter of Queen Catherine de Medici and the French noble Richard Delacroix. She was also an influential patron King Henry took part in the jousting, sporting Diane's black-and-white colours. She died on 27 March 1615.2. [56] The Catholics took Rouen, but their triumph was short-lived. She was just 11 years old when she married Charles, Duke of Lorraine in January 1559 in a splendid ceremony at the Notre-Dame. [96] The death of the heir to the throne in 1584 prompted the Duke of Guise to assume the leadership of the Catholic League. Claude and Charles would go on to have nine children, of which seven would survive to adulthood. Clement housed Catherine in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence, where she lived in state. Henry's death in 1559 thrust Catherine into the political arena as mother of the frail 15-year-old King Francis II. At the same moment, eight members of the Guise family were rounded up, including the Duke of Guise's brother, Louis II, Cardinal of Guise, who Henry's men hacked to death the next day in the palace dungeons. During this time, she presided over a distinctive late French Renaissance culture in all branches of the arts. Henry III's assassination ended nearly three centuries of Valois rule and brought the Bourbon dynasty into power. [45] Neither saw the need to punish Protestants who worshipped in private and did not take up arms. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and stay up to date on History of Royal Women's articles! [105] When Catherine tried to go to Mass, she found her way barred, though she was allowed through the barricades. On 16 October 1568, Catherine wrote to Elisabeths husband to offer advice during Elisabeths pregnancy. 500: Catherine de Medici The Mother of three Kings, 500: Catherine de Medici Patron of the arts and follower of the occult. 15 Feb 1471, d. 28 Dec 1503. [19] Clement visited the newlyweds in bed the next morning and added his blessings to the night's proceedings. Catherine ordered him to court and had him imprisoned as soon as he arrived. The imperial ambassador reported that in the presence of guests, Henry would sit on Diane's lap and play the guitar, chat about politics, or fondle her breasts. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Hoogvliet, Margriet. On her visit to Rome, the Venetian envoy described Catherine as "small of stature, and thin, and without delicate features, but having the protruding eyes peculiar to the Medici family". Yes, Catherine De Medici has an illegitimate child named Clarissa Delacroix, after her affair with Richard Delacroix. In 1556, Catherine nearly died giving birth to twin daughters, Jeanne and Victoire. She shared the same birthmark as her father, so Catherine had Nostradamus father, a physician, attempt to remove the birthmark from Clarissa. "[94] She was under no illusions, however. About 1538, at the age of 19, Henry had taken as his mistress the 38-year-old Diane de Poitiers,[27] whom he adored for the rest of his life. He cites Cloulas (. She was closely involved in the planning and supervising of all her architectural schemes. [118] There were also hundreds of portraits, for which a vogue had developed during Catherine's lifetime. Her two children: Franoise de Brz and Louise de Brz. WebMaybe it goes without saying (because The CW did make a whole TV show about it called Reign), but Catherines daughter-in-law was the equally infamous Mary, Queen of Scots. [46], When Catherine realized Francis was going to die, she made a pact with Antoine de Bourbon by which he would renounce his right to the regency of the future king, Charles IX, in return for the release of his brother Cond. [109] On 23 December 1588, he asked the Duke of Guise to call on him at the Chteau de Blois. WebCatherine de' Medici married Henry, Duke of Orlans, the future Henry II of France, in Marseille on 28 October 1533. Corrections? WebDid Queen Catherine have an illegitimate daughter? At times he even felt well enough to dictate letters and listen to music. Joan became even sicker, and she died, shortly before her son arrived, on 9 June. Moving on to the fortress of Carlat, Margaret took a lover called d'Aubiac. I am surprised that she never did worse. 42 Scandalous Facts About Catherine de Medici Labouvie suggested that women's power was believed to be the ability to create and sustain life, whilst witches were believed to have the opposite power; that of attacking health, life and fertility. [130] As the centrepiece of an ambitious new chapel, she commissioned a magnificent tomb for Henry at the basilica of Saint Denis. Historica Wiki is a FANDOM Games Community. [4] Catherine decided to launch a drive to enforce the Edict of Amboise and revive loyalty to the crown. Clarissa and Catherine Born on 13th April 1519, Catherine is still remembered as the 'Black Queen' of France, foe of all Protestants, and the Italian daughter of a merchant who dragged France into a series of bloody, religious civil wars. She was left with a desire for revenge against her mother, saving Mary, Queen of Scots from Colin MacPhail when Catherine sent Colin to rape her in 1557; she then helped Colin in attempting to escape from prison by marking another prisoner for death in his stead. This she envisaged in terms of the marriage of her daughter Marguerite to the young Protestant leader, Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France), and alliance with England through the marriage of her son Henry, duc dAnjou, or, failing him, his younger brother Franois, duc dAlenon, to Queen Elizabeth. She gave birth to ten children, of whom four sons and three daughters survived to marriageable age. Her ability and eloquence were acclaimed after the Spanish victory of Saint-Quentin in Picardy in 1557, possibly the origin of her perpetual fear of Spain, which remained, through changing circumstances, the touchstone of her judgments. She quickly terminated the second (September 1567March 1568) with the Peace of Longjumeau, a renewal of Amboise. Margaret retained her titles and was financially taken care of, and perhaps for the first time, she had a good relationship with her husband. Claude died in childbirth in 1575 and Catherine was truly devastated. In 1593, Henry proposed an annulment of their marriage because he desperately needed an heir. [49], She summoned church leaders from both sides to attempt to solve their doctrinal differences. In 1585, Margaret fled Navarre again. This rejection was one basic element in the outbreak of civil war in 1562, in whichas she had predictedCatherine fell, politically, into the clutches of the extremists, because the Catholic crown might protect its Protestant subjects in law but could not defend them in arms. Catherine de' Medici Elizabeth I was treated with similar suspicionshe too entertained questionable characters (such as her advisor, John Dee), and produced no official heir. Claude was described with the words, In her beauty she resembled her mother, in her knowledge and kindness she resembled her aunt; and the people of Lorraine found her ever kind as long as she lived, as I myself have seen when I went to that country; and after her death they found much to say of her. Clarissa Delacroix was born in 1539, the illegitimate daughter of Queen Catherine de Medici of France and King Henry II of France's boyhood friend Richard Delacroix. After becoming pregnant once, Catherine had no trouble doing so again. During his reign, Henry excluded Catherine from state affairs and instead showered favours on his chief mistress, Diane de Poitiers, who wielded much influence over him. [98] As Catherine put it, "peace is carried on a stick" (bton porte paix). Henry's reign also saw the rise of the Guise brothers, Charles, who became a cardinal, and Henry's boyhood friend Francis, who became Duke of Guise. In 1793, a revolutionary mob tossed her bones into a mass grave with those of the other kings and queens.[114]. On 17 August 1563, Charles IX was declared of age at the Parlement of Rouen, but he was never able to rule on his own and showed little interest in government. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Blunt, 98, 100. 16th-century Italian noblewoman and queen consort of France, Consorts to debatable or disputed rulers are in. Margaret, however, became almost as much of a thorn in Catherine's side as Francis, and in 1582, she returned to the French court without her husband. royal 28. Surgeons saved her life by breaking the legs of Jeanne, who died in her womb. In 1561, with the support of the distinguished chancellor Michel de LHospital, she began by trying to propitiate the leaders of both religious factions, to effect reforms and economies by unassailably traditional methods, and to settle the religious conflict. Catherine de' Medici He dispensed with her advice only in the last months of her life but outlived her by just seven months. Born in Florence, she was the granddaughter of Lorenzo de' Medici, niece of Pope Leo X and sister to Lorenzo II de' Medici. The Protestants looked for leadership first to Antoine de Bourbon, King of Navarre, the First Prince of the Blood, and then, with more success, to his brother, Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Cond, who backed a plot to overthrow the Guises by force. Catherine could not hold back her sobs. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Nevertheless, popular culture frequently attributes Italian culinary influence and forks in France to Catherine. [97] By 1585, Henry III had no choice but to go to war against the League. This afforded the Calvinists licensed coexistence with specific safeguards. The legend that de' Medici introduced a long list of foods, techniques and utensils from Italy to France is discredited by food historians. [8] King Francis wanted Catherine to be raised at the French court, but Pope Leo refused, claiming he wanted her to marry Ippolito de' Medici. Three days later, Admiral Coligny was walking back to his rooms from the Louvre when a shot rang out from a house and wounded him in the hand and arm. [135] Barbara Ketcham Wheaton and Stephen Mennell provided the definitive arguments against these claims. Suspicions of poison abounded, from Catherine to Emperor Charles V.[24] Sebastiano de Montecuccoli confessed under torture to poisoning the Dauphin.[24]. As time passed and the likelihood of children from the marriage receded, Catherine's youngest son, Francis, Duke of Alenon, known as "Monsieur", played upon his role as heir to the throne, repeatedly exploiting the anarchy of the civil wars, which were by now as much about noble power struggles as religion. She reappeared after a few hours and declared that she would offer her other daughter Margaret in marriage to King Philip. Nevertheless, she was devastated at Elisabeths loss. Catherine de' Medici (Italian: Caterina de' Medici, pronounced[katerina de mditi]; French: Catherine de Mdicis, pronounced[katin d medisis]; 13 April 1519 5 January 1589) was a Florentine noblewoman born into the Medici family. [47] As a result, when Francis died on 5 December 1560, the Privy Council appointed Catherine as governor of France (gouvernante de France), with sweeping powers. [20] Prince Henry danced and jousted for Catherine. Knecht 1998, p. 8 (dates of death); Hritier 1963, p. 15 (cause of Madeleine's death). "[112] She left in tears. However, he denied ever providing such advice. The death of her husband's older brother in 1536 made Henry and Catherine next in line for the throne. Clarissa Delacroix was born in 1539, the illegitimate daughter of Queen Catherine de Medici of France and King Henry II of Frances boyhood friend Richard Delacroix. Of the chateaus she designed herselfincluding the TuileriesChenonceaux was her unfinished masterpiece. Claude was raised alongside her sister Elisabeth, the future Queen of Spain, and sister-in-law Queen Mary of Scotland. Philip II excused himself from the occasion. [91] Catherine cut Margaret out of her will and never saw her again. She wrote to Bellivre, "Never have I seen myself in such trouble or with so little light by which to escape. * * *. In 1537, he had a brief affair with Philippa Duci, who gave birth to a daughter, whom he publicly acknowledged. She was born in Florence, Italy, on April 13, 1519. He was tried in November, found guilty of offences against the crown, and sentenced to death. "As the daughter of the Medici," suggests French art historian Jean-Pierre Babelon, "she was driven by a passion to build and a desire to leave great achievements behind her when she died.
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