Catherine de Medici

Personal Life

Catherine was born in Florence Italy in 1519. When she was just an infant, her parents Lorenzo II De Medici and Madeleine De La Tour d'Auvergne had died due to a mysterious disease. Catherine then lived with nuns who were very strict. They trained and disciplined her very well. Because of this, Catherine grew up to be very well educated. In 1533 when Catherine was 14 years old, her uncle Pope Clement VII had arranged her marriage. Catherine was married to the future king of France- Henry II of France. This actually turned out not to be the best marriage for Catherine, because King Henry had a mistress by the name of Diane de Poitiers who he prefered to Catherine. This went to the extent that on his court documents, King Henry would actually sign “Henry-Diane”. As you may have guessed, this made Catherine extremely jealous. It is said that when King Henry was on his death bed, he called for Diane, but Catherine didn’t allow the mistress to enter! Thus, King Henry died unhappy.

Accomplishments

Catherine de Medici held a very large role in French politics- mostly, during the thirty years of Roman Catholic and Huguenot Wars. This was because even though she herself was Roman Catholic, Catherine sometimes agreed with the Huguenots. When she did this, Catherine was responsible for creating a peace agreement between the Catholics and Protestants. Also she applied a Policy of Conciliation with the Huguenots and granted them the Edict of Amboise which allowed them to freely worship in strict locations. In addition property was restored to them and prisoners of war were released. This ended the French Wars of Religion. Peace was established for the following four years. Catherine`s sons became kings, with the help of her influence. Her first son, Francois, ruled only for 17 months. His death in 1560 put Charles IX to the throne, which allowed Catherine to become France’s Queen Regent. This position allowed her to heavily influence the court. At that time civilians were losing their respect for the monarchy and Catherine wanted to restore their faith, and so she did through patronage of the arts. This program lasted for 30 years. She employed artists and performers, was a collector of many artworks (hand drawn maps, sculptures, tapestries etc.), and held court festivals where she arranged for performances in the court. Her interests in art helped the Renaissance flourish in France. Sadly, after her death and the fall of the Valois dynasty, this was forgotten and destroyed. However her famous court festivals (where she arranged performances in her court) made a more significant mark.

Triumph of Winter, by Antoine Caron, c. 1568

Analyzation

People have been hunting down Catherine since she was very young. This would affect her ways in decision making. For example, she'd choose decisions that would ensure her safety. That would be by getting people to side with her and getting herself in a powerful position so she can influence the way things work. That may have been the cause to her making peace between the Catholics and Huguenots. If she sided with one group, then the other one might come after her. 90% of France's population were Catholics so siding with the Huguenots would bring on rage and her fall of power (which she greatly valued.) Her siding with the Catholics would also stir problems since she had a past with assigning peace policies with them and even allowed them to publicly practice their religion. She might have also wanted the Huguenots to side with her because of her great interest in art. Huguenots could have contributed to the art with new perspectives and ideas. It's also known that she would occasionally agree with Huguenots' ideas. That meant she thought they were worthy to consider and help develop French society. By making these treaties, she thought that maybe religious wars would finally stop and they could join together to move their country forward and into greatness.

worldview

Excerpts from Catherine’s Diary

1533

It’s been a long time since my parents died, around 14. Sometimes I lose track because day after day it’s all busy. The Nuns are either giving me work or someone slipped their way into the house and almost assassinated me. Same old, same old, but still busy. And exhausting, I wonder if I can ever have a break. Anyways, to keep my mind from exploding I’ve decided to keep track of everything in this Diary. That and I need to improve on my writing or the Nuns will scold me.

Lately my uncle, the Pope Clement, arranged a marriage between me and Henry II. This was expected of course. In fact, I thought it would happen even sooner. The Medici line has to continue and marriage into wealth and power must be done.

I can’t say much about my Fiance. I know it’s foolish but I hope he’s wonderful and loving. I also hope he’ll let me make decisions in court. I know women aren’t really involved, but I have some ideas that I think will be very good. And it’s not like I learned politics for no reason. One thing I know about my family is that they have their ways of sneaking into powerful positions and getting money. Everyone is after me because of it! I think that’s enough writing for today, my hand is getting sore and I think I heard someone in the corridors…

1537

I can’t produce a child. I can’t, I can’t, WHY CAN’T I! I must, I have to. It’s the only way to continue the line and Henry is growing impatient and tired of me but I don’t want him to be. I love him but he doesn’t return the feelings. I barely see him, these castles feel empty and haunted but when didn’t it? He’s been having mistresses round and one of them even produced a child. Why can she do it but not I? I’m going to stop writing now because I’m afraid I’ll smudge the papers.

1538

There’s one mistress whom he adores very much. Diane de Poitiers. He even made a symbol for them. It’s disguised to represent us but it’s really not. It’s useless, our marriage was never meant to work out.

1544

I’ve finally produced a child. 8 years ago Henry’s brother, Francis died and left Henry as the heir. I was expected to produce an heir and I got more desperate. I’ve tried every trick to get pregnant. I owe it to my physician Jean Fernel for this. I’ve named the new prince Francis, after the late king. I expect to produce more children. Unfortunately even this won’t get me Henry’s love. I’ve grown to not get upset over this.

1559

Dear Henry passed away a few days ago. He became reckless in a tournament and his face got pierced by a lance. Montgomery destroyed his face. It was bloody and gruesome. He was even getting better for a while, hell he could even write, but the lord snatched him from my grasp. I weep, I weep. I am in excruciating pain, but I feel as I should not grieve such for a man whose heart I have not ever captured. Lacrymae hinc, hinc dolor.

Francis is to begin his reign. I’m very worried, Francis isn’t very strong physically or mentally. Even if I am merely the regent and can’t officially rule, my loyal Francis has given me the authority of posing as his guide in court. I’m making sure to keep an eye out for him. The next in line is my younger son Charles IX. He’s not very interested in politics. I guess I have to run the court behind the scenes, I don’t mind that though. I guess it is what I had been training for all my life.

1560

Francis passed away. I have been expecting that so I’ve been making early preparations for court. I’ve made sure that the council made me governor of France. Charles is the next heir, but he’s so young, barely 10. Just like Francis, I’m taking over decisions for him.

Things in France have been chaotic. Sometimes lesser nobles have more power than the crown! I must find a way for my people to respect this monarchy again. It’s the true rulers.

I have also started a patronage of arts. I have hired artists and performers and their work is breathtaking. I’m surprised that art isn’t considered much. There’s so much greatness about it. I’ve taken up managing the construction of buildings and it has lifted up my spirits many times. I’ve even arranged court festivals and everyone seems to love it. I hope for more others to appreciate art as much as I do.

Oh how heartless of me. I haven’t written about Francis. Of course I miss him, he was my son and one of the only few people whom I knew loved me. But a full life wasn’t what the lord had in store for him. I sometimes find myself being secretly furious. The only way to live now is to look on forward.

1570

Ten years. I haven’t touched this diary for ten years. So much happened. I wonder when it will be all too much that I will shatter into pieces. There have been civil wars all around in France. I have tried to join the two religions together and make peace but there’s always someone attacking the other and it turns to bloody and brutal.

The Catholics hate me because they think I’m siding with the Huguenots and the Huguenots hate me because they think I’m secretly planning their death. It’s all a mess.

Then to try to create some sort of connection between the two, I’ve arranged my daughter Margaret to marry the Protestant Prince, Henry. It was the biggest celebration, everyone was invited.

However it didn’t end well. Assassins attacked the Protestant Admiral Coligny. People were thinking I had staged the attack and I was afraid that they were planning to kill me and my son and God knows who else. We had to be ahead of the game so I convinced Charles to order an attack on the Huguenot leaders. This soon turned to a large massacre. There were murders on the street everyday as if it was a new sport. It lasted for weeks and weeks and I, nor anyone, had any control of it. And I am blamed greatly for it. I did what I thought was going to protect my son and everyone. The only part of my decision that I regret is my new bad reputation and my lost grasp of power. I refuse to take full, or even most responsibility of this. They seem to fail to realize how stronger and better we’d be if we just joined forces. Ideas, knowledge, and art could have been brought together, new concepts could have been discovered and we would be moving forward, leaving the pathetic past behind. But both groups were foolish to not think anything through. In the end, they brought it upon themselves because they couldn’t get past their mere differences.

Maybe in the future it will be different and people won’t let such things get in the way to society’s greatness.

Sources

J, Richard.; (2011) “Edict of Amboise, 18 March 1563.” History of War.

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/edict_amboise.html

S, Briann.; (1994) “Renaissance Women Catherine de Medici.” Renaissance Women.

http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/renaissance/renaissancewomen.html

Case, Brandon.; (2003) “Catherine d’Medici, Queen of France.” MMV Prof. Pavlac.

http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/cathymedici.html

Unknown Author.; (2012) “Catherine de Medici (1519-1589).” BBC History.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/de_medici_catherine.shtml

Jackson, Kim.; (2009) “Art and war: Catherine de Medici's contributions to history." Examiner.

http://www.examiner.com/article/art-and-war-catherine-de-medici-s-contributions-to-history