Catherine de Medici was the queen of France from 1547 to 1559. She was the wife of King Henri II and the mother of ten children, most notably King Francis II, King Charles IX, and King Henry III. Catherine is perhaps best known for serving as Queen Regent to her son Charles, during which time she orchestrated the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, but her influence also extended into more cultural achievements, like bringing high heels and ballet dancing to France. Catherine de Medici had a lasting impact on the world in two major ways: participation in religious conflict and patronage of the arts.
Catherine de Medici was born in Florence, Italy on April 13, 1519 as Caterina de Medici. Her parents were Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbino, and …show more content…
After the death of Henri’s father, King Francis I, he became King Henri II, and his reign lasted from 1547 until his death in 1559.However, Henri was easily influenced by the political advice of his favorite mistress, Diane de Poitiers, as well as the Duke de Guise and the Constable Anne de Montmorency (Frieda 70-73). Even though Henri’s devotion to Diane left him little time for Catherine, Catherine’s father-in-law, King Francis I, favored her. In an anecdote shared by Lorenzo Contarini, the Venetian ambassador to the French court during Francis’s reign, Contarini recounts that when Catherine was first married to Henri, the couple could not have children. The French people thought that Catherine was infertile, and thus unfit to be queen. Catherine told her father-in-law that she would gladly move to a convent and let Henri remarry. Francis disagreed, and allegedly told Catherine that it was by God’s will that she was in France, and that she would stay there. Catherine likely knew that the public and court were growing to resent her for her lack of children, and she decided to use this to her advantage. By acknowledging the importance of the woman’s role as a child-bearer and offering to be sent away, Catherine appeared nurturing and self-sacrificing to her father-in-law, thereby winning the support of the King. The King’s endorsement stabilized Catherine’s power as Queen. Catherine went on to have ten children, seven of which
Catherine de Medici was born in Florence, Italy on April 13, 1519 as Caterina de Medici. Her parents were Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbino, and …show more content…
After the death of Henri’s father, King Francis I, he became King Henri II, and his reign lasted from 1547 until his death in 1559.However, Henri was easily influenced by the political advice of his favorite mistress, Diane de Poitiers, as well as the Duke de Guise and the Constable Anne de Montmorency (Frieda 70-73). Even though Henri’s devotion to Diane left him little time for Catherine, Catherine’s father-in-law, King Francis I, favored her. In an anecdote shared by Lorenzo Contarini, the Venetian ambassador to the French court during Francis’s reign, Contarini recounts that when Catherine was first married to Henri, the couple could not have children. The French people thought that Catherine was infertile, and thus unfit to be queen. Catherine told her father-in-law that she would gladly move to a convent and let Henri remarry. Francis disagreed, and allegedly told Catherine that it was by God’s will that she was in France, and that she would stay there. Catherine likely knew that the public and court were growing to resent her for her lack of children, and she decided to use this to her advantage. By acknowledging the importance of the woman’s role as a child-bearer and offering to be sent away, Catherine appeared nurturing and self-sacrificing to her father-in-law, thereby winning the support of the King. The King’s endorsement stabilized Catherine’s power as Queen. Catherine went on to have ten children, seven of which