Biography of Henry III King France 1551-1589
Paternal Family Tree: Capet
Maternal Family Tree: Catherine Medici Queen Consort France 1519-1589
1547 Death of King Francis I of France Accession of Henry II
1559 Henry II of France Dies Francis and Mary "Queen of Scots" Succeed
1575 Coronation and Marriage of Henry III King France
1587 Execution of Mary Queen of Scots
1588 "Day of the Dagger" Assassination of Henry 1st Duke Guise
On 28 Oct 1533 [his father] King Henry II of France (age 14) and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 14) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. He the son of King Francis I of France (age 39) and Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France.
On 31 Mar 1547 [his grandfather] King Francis I of France (age 52) died. His son [his father] King Henry II of France (age 28) succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.
On 19 Sep 1551 Henry III King France was born to King Henry II of France (age 32) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 32).
Wriothesley's Chronicle 1551. Before 25 Dec 1551. This year before Christmas, the Lord Clinton (age 39), Lord High Admirall of England, went into Fraunce to be the Kinges Maiesties deputye to christen the [his father] French Kinges (age 32) sonne, which bare the Kinges name [Note. The French king's], where he was highly received and feasted of the French Kinge, and had great gyftes giuen him, and was proclaymed by the French harrouldes after the christninge, Edwardus Alexander Dux Anguilonia.[Note. Angoulême]
On 10 Jul 1559 [his father] King Henry II of France (age 40) was killed whilst jousting in celebration of his daughter's (age 14) marriage to Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 32). His son [his brother] Francis II King France King Consort Scotland (age 15) succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. Mary Queen of Scots (age 16) by marriage Queen Consort France. They would reign for eighteen months only with Francis dying in Dec 1560. Francis and Mary would have no issue.
On 30 May 1574 [his brother] Charles IX King France (age 23) died. His brother Henry III King France (age 22) succeeded III King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.
In 1575 Henry III King France (age 23) was appointed 361st Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 41).
On 13 Feb 1575 Henry III King France (age 23) was crowned III King France: Capet Valois Angoulême at Reims Cathedral.
On 14 Feb 1575 Henry III King France (age 23) and Louise Lorraine Queen Consort France (age 21) were married at Reims Cathedral; the day after his coronation. She by marriage Queen Consort France. He the son of King Henry II of France and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 55). They were fourth cousins.
On 12 May 1575 Henry III King France (age 23) Abdicated III King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. His second cousin Henry IV King France (age 21) succeeded IV King France: Capet Valois Bourbon.
On 12 Jul 1579 [his brother-in-law] Philippe Emmanuel Duke of Mercœur (age 20) and Marie de Luxembourg (age 17) were married. They were third cousin once removed.
On 18 Sep 1581 Anne de Batarnay Duke of (age 21) and [his sister-in-law] Marguerite of Lorraine (age 17) were married.
On 19 Sep 1585 [his brother-in-law] Henri de Lorraine-Chaligny (age 15) and Claude Marquise of Moy (age 13) were married.
In 1587 [his brother-in-law] Bishop Antoine of Lorraine (age 14) died.
In 1587 [his brother-in-law] Cardinal Charles de Lorraine (age 26) died.
On 07 Feb 1587 Mary Queen of Scots (age 44) was informed she was to be executed the following day. During the course of the night she wrote to her former brother-in-law Henry III King France (age 35) ...
To the most Christian king, my brother and old ally,.
Royal brother, having by God's will, for my sins I think, thrown myself into the power of the Queen my cousin, at whose hands I have suffered much for almost twenty years, I have finally been condemned to death by her and her Estates. I have asked for my papers, which they have taken away, in order that I might make my will, but I have been unable to recover anything of use to me, or even get leave either to make my will freely or to have my body conveyed after my death, as I would wish, to your kingdom where I had the honor to be queen, your sister and old ally.
Tonight, after dinner, I have been advised of my sentence: I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning. I have not had time to give you a full account of everything that has happened, but if you will listen to my doctor and my other unfortunate servants, you will learn the truth, and how, thanks be to God, I scorn death and vow that I meet it innocent of any crime, even if I were their subject. The Catholic faith and the assertion of my God-given right to the English crown are the two issues on which I am condemned, and yet I am not allowed to say that it is for the Catholic religion that I die, but for fear of interference with theirs. The proof of this is that they have taken away my chaplain, and although he is in the building, I have not been able to get permission for him to come and hear my confession and give me the Last Sacrament, while they have been most insistent that I receive the consolation and instruction of their minister, brought here for that purpose. The bearer of this letter and his companions, most of them your subjects, will testify to my conduct at my last hour. It remains for me to beg Your Most Christian Majesty, my brother-in-law and old ally, who have always protested your love for me, to give proof now of your goodness on all these points: firstly by charity, in paying my unfortunate servants the wages due them - this is a burden on my conscience that only you can relieve: further, by having prayers offered to God for a queen who has borne the title Most Christian, and who dies a Catholic, stripped of all her possessions. As for my son, I commend him to you in so far as he deserves, for I cannot answer for him. I have taken the liberty of sending you two precious stones, talismans against illness, trusting that you will enjoy good health and a long and happy life. Accept them from your loving sister-in-law, who, as she dies, bears witness of her warm feeling for you. Again I commend my servants to you. Give instructions, if it please you, that for my soul's sake part of what you owe me should be paid, and that for the sake of Jesus Christ, to whom I shall pray for you tomorrow as I die, I be left enough to found a memorial mass and give the customary alms.
Wednesday, at two in the morning.
Your most loving and most true sister.
Mary R.
On 23 Dec 1588 Henry 1st Duke Guise (age 37), leader of the Catholic League, was assassinated at the Château de Blois by the King's bodyguard whilst Henry III King France (age 37) looked on.
On 05 Jan 1589 [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 69) died.
On 02 Aug 1589 Henry III King France (age 37) was assassinated.
On 29 Jan 1601 [his former wife] Louise Lorraine Queen Consort France (age 47) died at the Château de Moulins.
Evelyn's Diary. 24 Dec 1643. I went with some company to see some remarkable places without the city: as the Isle, and how it is encompassed by the Rivers Seine and the Ouse. The city is divided into three parts, whereof the town is greatest. The city lies between it and the University in form of an island. Over the Seine is a stately bridge called Pont Neuf, begun by Henry III in 1578, finished by Henry IV his successor. It is all of hewn freestone found under the streets, but more plentifully at Montmartre, and consists of twelve arches, in the midst of which ends the point of an island, on which are built handsome artificers' houses. There is one large passage for coaches, and two for foot passengers three or four feet higher, and of convenient breadth for eight or ten to go abreast. On the middle of this stately bridge, on one side, stands the famous statue of Henry the Great on horseback, exceeding the natural proportion by much; and, on the four faces of a stately pedestal (which is composed of various sorts of polished marbles and rich moldings), inscriptions of his victories and most signal actions are engraven in brass. The statue and horse are of copper, the work of the great John di Bologna, and sent from Florence by Ferdinand the First, and Cosmo the Second, uncle and cousin to Mary de Medicis, the wife of King Henry, whose statue it represents. The place where it is erected is inclosed with a strong and beautiful grate of iron, about which there are always mountebanks showing their feats to the idle passengers. From hence is a rare prospect toward the Louvre and suburbs of St. Germains, the Isle du Palais, and Nôtre Dame. At the foot of this bridge is a water-house, on the front whereof, at a great height, is the story of Our Savior and the woman of Samaria pouring water out of a bucket. Above, is a very rare dial of several motions, with a chime, etc. The water is conveyed by huge wheels, pumps, and other engines, from the river beneath. The confluence of the people and multitude of coaches passing every moment over the bridge, to a new spectator is an agreeable diversion. Other bridges there are, as that of Nôtre Dame and the Pont-au-Change, etc., fairly built, with houses of stone, which are laid over this river; only the Pont St. Anne, landing the suburbs of St. Germains at the Tuileries, is built of wood, having likewise a water house in the midst of it, and a statue of Neptune casting water out of a whale's mouth, of lead, but much inferior to the Samaritan.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Son of Malcolm III King Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 11 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great Grand Son of Louis XII King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles V of France 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Valois Duke Touraine I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Valois Orléans 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marguerite Rohan
GrandFather: King Francis I of France 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Amadeus Savoy VIII Count Savoy 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Savoy I Count Savoy 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Valois Countess Savoy 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip "Landless" Savoy II Duke Savoy 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Janus of Cyprus
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Cyprus Countess Savoy
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anglesia Visconti
Great x 1 Grandmother: Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Bourbon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Valois Duchess Bourbon 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Father: King Henry II of France 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles V of France 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Valois Duke Touraine I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois Duke Orléans 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis XII King France 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Adolph La Marck 8 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Adolph La Marck I Duke Cleves 9 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Jülich Countess Cleves and Mark 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary La Marck Duchess Orléans 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Valois Duchess Cleves 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandMother: Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Montfort V Duke Brittany 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Montfort 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Montfort II Duke Brittany 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Valois Duke Touraine I Duke Orléans 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Valois 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John I Count Foix
Great x 3 Grandfather: Gaston IV Count Foix
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jeanne Albret Countess Foix
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marguerite Foix Duchess Brittany 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John II King Aragon 7 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Trastámara Queen Consort Navarre 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Évreux Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Henry III King France 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Cosimo de Medici "The Elder"
Great x 3 Grandfather: Piero di Cosimo de Medici
Great x 2 Grandfather: Lorenzo de Medici
Great x 4 Grandfather: Francesco di Simone Tornabuoni
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucrezia Tornabuoni
Great x 1 Grandfather: Piero "The Unfortunate" de Medici
Great x 4 Grandfather: Orso Orsini
Great x 3 Grandfather: Giacomo Orsini
Great x 2 Grandmother: Clarice Orsini
GrandFather: Lorenzo de Medici Duke of Urbino