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Catherine di Medici

Female 1519 - 1589  (69 years)    Has more than 100 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.

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  • Name Catherine di Medici 
    Birth 13 Apr 1519  Firenze, Toscana, Italia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Death 15 Jan 1589  Blois, Loir-et-Cher, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I9738  Geneagraphie
    Last Modified 9 Oct 2002 

    Father Lorenzo II di Medici,   b. 1492   d. 4 May 1519 (Age 27 years) 
    Mother Madeleine de la Tour d' Auvergne   d. 28 Apr 1519 
    Family ID F21624  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Roy Henry de France, II,   b. 31 Mar 1519, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Yvelines, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 10 Jul 1559, Paris, Île-de-France, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 40 years) 
    Marriage 28 Oct 1533  Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Roy Francois II de France,   b. 19 Jan 1544, Fontainebleau, Seine et Marne, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Dec 1560, Orleans Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 16 years)
    +2. Elisabeth de Valois,   b. 2 Apr 1545, Fontainebleau, Seine et Marne, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Oct 1568, Aranjuez Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 23 years)
    +3. Claude de France,   b. 1547   d. 1575 (Age 28 years)
     4. Louise de France,   b. 1549   d. 1550 (Age 1 year)
    +5. Roy Charles de France, IX,   b. 27 Jun 1550, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Yvelines, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Nov 1574, Vincennes, Île-de-France, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 24 years)
     6. Roy Henry de France, III,   b. 19 Sep 1551, Fontainebleau, Seine et Marne, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Aug 1589, Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 37 years)
     7. Marguerite de Valois,   b. 14 May 1553, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Yvelines, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Mar 1615, Paris, Île-de-France, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 61 years)
     8. Duc Francois Hercule d' Alencon,   b. 1554   d. 1 Jun 1584 (Age 30 years)
     9. Victoiree de France,   b. 1556   d. Yes, date unknown
     10. Jeanne de France,   b. 1556   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F3413  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 4 Dec 2001 

  • Event Map Click to hide
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 13 Apr 1519 - Firenze, Toscana, Italia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 28 Oct 1533 - Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 15 Jan 1589 - Blois, Loir-et-Cher, France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos Photos (Log in)Photos (Log in)

  • Notes 
    • Niece of Pope Leo X. At the age of fourteen she would become dauphine of France and later the queen of France.
      Catherine has been largely reviled by history. As a foreign women wielding the power behind the throne of France during one of the worst times in its history, it probably could not be otherwise. She has been largely blamed as the mastermind of Admiral Coligny's murder and the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (surely Jehan du Lac believes it), but her role is hard to know for absolutely certain. She did bring many aspects of Italian culture to France, including the Commedia dell'Arte, ballet, fine cooking and table manners, and Italian bankers. Her political maneuvering, while not winning her any great popularity, kept the throne of France intact for 30 years, long enough for the Bourbons to inherit it. Her life-long rival, Henri IV, paid her this tribute after his victory was complete and his throne secure: "What could the poor woman do with five little children on her arms, after the death of her husband, and two families in France, ours and the Guises, attempting to encroach on the Crown? Was she not forced to play strange parts to deceive the one and the other and yet, as she did, to protect her children, who reigned in succession by the wisdom of a woman so able? I wonder that she did not do worse!"
      --c. t. iannuzzo
      ********************************************
      Mother of the three last Valois: Francis II would not have time to reign; Charles IX would hardly do: the Regent Queen was to try to save the throne for her favourite son - Henri III. However the civil war broke out in the country, which had so far been spared. Led by daring men (the Guise, Bourbons, Conde, Coligny) Catholics and Protest­ants confronted each other in battle. This period represented one long continual massacre, broken up by truces and passing reconciliations ... However the queen mother organised feasts at Chenonceau to celebrate the marriage between Francis II and the beautiful Mary Stuart. During the eighteen months of his reign the young king had only a few days of happiness...
      The court festivities were a strange contrast to the intolerance and violence between the two parties. The murders which increased each day did away with emotion and sensitivity. The dag­ger and poison became part of everyday life. In order to be informed about conspiracies and plots, Catherine used the services of her maids of honour. This was "the flying squadron": beautiful spies, docile servants to her politique.



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