Born: 13 April 1519, Italy
Died: 5 January 1589
Country most active: France
Also known as: Catherine, Catharine or Katherine de Médicis, Medicis or de’ Médici, Caterina Maria Romola, Caterina de Medici or de Médicis
From Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.:
CATHARINE DE’ MEDICI, A.D. 1519-1589
FAMOUS QUEEN MOTHER OF KINGS.
CATHARINE DE’MEDICI, the wife of one king of France and the mother of three, was the daughter of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino, and was born at Florence in 1519. In her fourteenth year she was brought to France, and married to Henry, the second son of Francis I. The marriage was a part of the political schemes of her uncle, Pope Clement VII, but as he died soon after, she found herself friendless and neglected at the French court.
It was not till the accession of her eldest son, Francis II, in 1559, that she found some scope for her ambition. The Guises at this time were in power, and Catharine entered into a secret alliance with the Huguenots to oppose them. On the death of Francis II in 1560, and accession of her second son, Charles IX, the government fell entirely into her hands.
She entered into a secret treaty with Spain for the extirpation of heretics and subsequently into a plot with the Guises, which resulted in the fearful massacre of St. Bartholomew’s day. This event brought the whole power of the state into the hands of the queen mother, who boasted of the deed to Roman Catholic governments, and excused it to Protestant ones.
About this time she succeeded, by gold and intrigues, in getting her third son, afterwards Henry III, elected to the Polish throne. But her arbitrary and tyrannical administration roused the opposition of a Roman Catholic party, at the head of which was her own fourth son, the Duke of Alencon. It was very generally believed that she was privy to the machinations that led to his death. Many vexations preyed on the proud heart of the queen mother in her last days; and, amidst the confusion and strife of parties, she died at Blois on January 5, 15S9, unheeded and unlamented.