Catherine de Medici

Catherine de Medici was born to Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, and Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne. Her parents died shortly after her birth, leaving her an orphan.

After the death of her parents, Catherine was raised by various relatives and received a comprehensive education from the Dominicans and Augustinians in Florence.

Catherine married Henry, the second son of King Francis I of France, in a political alliance arranged by Pope Clement VII, her uncle. This marriage aimed to strengthen the French-Italian alliance.

Catherine became Queen of France when her husband Henry II ascended the throne. She played a significant role in the court, though initially overshadowed by her husband's mistress, Diane de Poitiers.

King Henry II died in a jousting accident, and Catherine's eldest son Francis II became king. Catherine began to wield more political influence as the queen mother.

After the death of Francis II, Catherine became regent for her young son Charles IX. She faced the challenges of religious conflicts and political intrigue during the French Wars of Religion.

Catherine is often implicated in the planning of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, a wave of organized violence against the Huguenots (French Protestants) that began in Paris and spread across France.

Catherine's third son, Henry III, became king after the death of Charles IX. Catherine continued to influence French politics and attempted to maintain stability during a tumultuous period.

Catherine arranged the marriage of her daughter Marguerite de Valois to Henry of Navarre, a significant political move to try to ease religious tensions and secure alliances.

Catherine de Medici died at the Château de Blois. Her legacy as a queen and regent is marked by her efforts to navigate the complex religious and political landscape of 16th-century France.