“Catherine de’ Medici”
Maddie Gardner
H. Mayo
Honors Renaissance History
28 September 2009
Gardner 2
Today some celebrate and some mourn the death of Catherine de’ Medici, the Italian
Queen of France. Many people attempt to change the future, they may devote their lives to it, but
in the end, most fail. Catherine de’ Medici however, was not one of those people, she tried to
change the future, but she succeeded.
Catherine de’ Medici age 70 of Italian decent passed away Friday January 5, 1589 at the
Royal Château de Blois, in France of unknown causes (Suite 101). She was born April 13,
1519 to Lorenzo de’ Medici or “Lorenzo the Magnificent”, and French Princess Madeline de
la Tour of Auvergne. Lorenzo was head of the Medici Family and therefore ruler of the
Florentine government. Catherine’s parents preceded her in death, dying weeks after her
birth leaving her the sole heiress to the Medici Family fortune. She had no close relatives to
raise her and was left in the care of her distant relative Cardinal Guilio de' Medici who
moved to Florence to take control of the government and Catherine (King’s College).
In 1527, when the Medici palace was attacked by a group of angry Florentine citizens,
eight year old Catherine was left as a hostage while the rest of the family fled. While in
hostage Catherine was sent throughout the city to different convents. While in these convents
she received the best education possible and was one of the best educated women in Europe
(King’s College).
When Guileo de’ Medici was made Pope Clement VII, he ended the revolt in Florence
and Catherine was sent back to Rome to reside with him. She was married at age fourteen to
the second son of King Francis I, Henry of Orleans later King Henry II of France. Who also
Gardner 3
preceded her in death. They were married when she was just fourteen at Marseilles in France
(Catholic Encyclopedia).
Catherine became Queen of France in 1547. When her husband passed she served as
Queen Regent for her three sons. Catherine showed great political strength by staying in
power as an Italian woman, and resolving religious disputes between the Catholic Church
and the French Protestants or Huguenots. She played a key role in the brining of absolutism
to France, and also to the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (Women’s Biographies).
Contributing to society and fashion, Catherine invented the first modern high heeled shoe
(King’s College), the first pair of modest underwear (Suite 101), brought art to France
through the Louvre, ballet and the invention of the point show, and increased the popularity
of corsets (Women’s Biographies).
Foregoing her in death are her parents, husband, five of her ten children, three who died
in infancy, and two of her sons King Francis II, and King Charles IX of France. Surviving
her are five of her children including King Henry III and Marguerite wife of Henri of
Navarre (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Catherine de Medici’s burial will take place on Sunday January 7, 1589 at the Saint Denis
Basilica where she will be placed to rest with her husband (Suite 101). She was a magnificent
woman full of life and culture who made France a place of honor. She will be remembered for
her bravery and power and the right to rule as a true Medici.
Gardner 4
Works Cited
"Catherine de Medici." NNDB: Tracking the entire world. Web. 28 Sept. 2009.
<http://www.nndb.com/people/100/000091824/>.
"Catherine de Medici: One of the most powerful female rulers of the Renaissance |
Suite101.com." W European History: Roman conquest to Viking invasions, Renaissance
to Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, European Union to the War on Terror, Denmark
to Portugal, Iceland to Germany. | Suite101.com. Web. 28 Sept. 2009.
<http://weuropeanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/catherine_de_medici>.
"Catherine de Medicis." Women's biographies: Distinguished Women of Past and Present. Web.
28 Sept. 2009. <http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/medici-c.html>.
"Catherine d'Medici." King's College - Wilkes-Barre, PA - 1-888-KINGS-PA. Web. 28 Sept.
2009. <http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/cathymedici.html>.
"CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Catherine De' Medici." NEW ADVENT: Home. Web. 28 Sept.
2009. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03443a.htm>.
Gardner 5