Catherine has been called "the most important woman in Europe” in the 16th century. Without Catherine, it is unlikely that her sons would have remained in power. Therefore, her policies may be seen as desperate measures to keep the House of Valois on the throne at all costs and her patronage of the arts as an attempt to glorify a monarchy whose prestige was in steep decline. In practice, her authority was limited by the effects of the civil wars. Some historians have excused Catherine from blame for the worst decisions of the crown, but evidence for her ruthlessness can be found in her letters. Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572, during which thousands of Huguenots were killed in France. In return, she was blamed for the persecutions carried out under her sons' rules, in particular the St. Later, she resorted in frustration and anger to hardline policies against them. However, she failed to fully grasp the theological issues that drove their movement. At first, Catherine compromised and made concessions to the rebelling Calvinist Protestants, or Huguenots, as they became known. However, Catherine maintained the monarchy and the state institutions functioning, even at a minimum level. The problems facing the monarchy were complex and daunting. He dispensed with her advice only in the last months of her life but outlived her by just seven months.Ĭatherine's three sons reigned in an age of almost constant civil and religious war in France. After Charles died in 1574, Catherine played a key role in the reign of her third son, Henry III. When Francis II died in 1560, she became regent on behalf of her 10-year-old son King Charles IX and was thus granted sweeping powers.
Henry's death in 1559 thrust Catherine into the political arena as mother of the frail 15-year-old King Francis II. 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. Catherine's marriage was arranged by her uncle Pope Clement VII. In 1533, at the age of 14, Catherine married Henry, the second son of King Francis I and Queen Claude of France, who would become Dauphin of France upon the death of his elder brother Francis in 1536.
Ĭatherine was born in Florence to Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, and Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne. 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. She was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to King Henry II and the mother of French kings Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. Caterina Maria Romula di Lorenzo de' MediciĬatherine de' Medici (Italian: Caterina de' Medici, pronounced French: Catherine de Médicis, pronounced 13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was a Florentine noblewoman born into the Medici family.
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