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Biography of Catherine Medici Queen Consort France 1519-1589

Paternal Family Tree: Medici

Maternal Family Tree: Catherine Medici Queen Consort France 1519-1589

1558 Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Francis Dauphin of France

1559 Henry II of France Dies Francis and Mary "Queen of Scots" Succeed

1560 Death of Francis II King France Charles IX Succeeds

1575 Coronation and Marriage of Henry III King France

On 13th April 1519 Catherine Medici Queen Consort France was born to Lorenzo de Medici Duke of Urbino (age 26).

On 4th May 1519 [her father] Lorenzo de Medici Duke of Urbino (age 26) died.

Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1533. 11th March 1533. R. O. St. P. VII. 427. 230. Instructions for Lord Rochford (age 30), sent to the French Court.

Is to present Francis with the letters written by the King's own hand, and express the delight he feels in his friendship and offers of service made by De Langeais, especially with regard to his asking the King's advice concerning the marriage of the [her future husband] duke of Orleans (age 13) with the Pope's niece (age 13)1. Has declared it already by De Langeais at his return; which Rochford is to enlarge upon, touching on the low extraction of the lady, which the King thinks is a great obstacle. Is to tell Francis that, according to his advice given at their last interview, and from his anxiety to have male issue for the establishment of his kingdom, he has proceeded effectually to the accomplishment of his marriage, trusting to find that his deeds will correspond with his promises, and that he will assist and maintain the King in the event of any excommunication from the Pope. That, in full consideration of the friendship of Francis, the King has opened to him his mind entirely, and asked his advice from time to time; and, considering he is now following the French king's counsel, he hopes that he will, as a true friend and brother, devise whatever he can for the establishment of the said marriage, preventing any impediment to it, or of the succession, which please God will follow, and which, to all appearance, is in a state of advancement already, as the King himself would do for Francis in like case.

Note 1. The marriage between the Duke of Orleans, future King Henry II of France, and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France took place on the 28th October 1533.

On 28th October 1533 King Henry II of France (age 14) and 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 19th January 1544 [her son] Francis II King France King Consort Scotland was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 24) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 24).

On 2nd April 1545 [her daughter] Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 26) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 25).

On 12th November 1547 [her daughter] Claude Valois Duchess Lorraine was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 28) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 28).

On 3rd February 1549 [her son] Louis Valois Duke Orléans was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 29) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 29).

On 29th April 1550 [her sister-in-law] Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy (age 26) was created Duchess Berry.

Diary of Edward VI. 17th June 1550. [Note. Mistake for 27th]. The French quene (age 31) was deliverid of a [her son] third sone, called mons. d'Angoulesme.1

Note 1. "The 27th day of this present, between three and five in the morning, the queen was delivered of a man-child, whom they call Monsieur d'Engoulesme. Here is divers talks who shall be godfathers. They that know much say that the queen is desirous to have the King our master to be one of them, and that for that purpose a gentleman shall be shortly sent from here to England." Letter from sir John Mason (age 47) to the council, dated at Poissy June 29, 1550 (new style), in Tytler, i 307.

On 27th June 1550 [her son] Charles IX King France was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 31) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 31).

On 24th October 1550 [her son] Louis Valois Duke Orléans (age 1) died.

On 19th September 1551 [her son] Henry III King France was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 32) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 32).

On 14th May 1553 [her daughter] Margaret Valois Queen Consort France was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 34) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 34).

On 18th March 1555 [her son] Francis Valois Duke Anjou was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 35) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 35).

On 24th June 1556 [her daughter] Joan Valois was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 37) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 37).

On 24th June 1556 [her daughter] Joan Valois died.

On 24th June 1556 [her daughter] Victoria Valois was born to [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 37) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 37).

On 17th August 1556 [her daughter] Victoria Valois died.

Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Francis Dauphin of France

On 24th April 1558 [her son] Dauphin of France (age 14) and [her daughter-in-law] Mary Queen of Scots (age 15) were married at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral [Map]. He by marriage King Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland (age 42). He the son of [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 39) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 39). They were fourth cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

In 1559 Emmanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy (age 30) and [her sister-in-law] Margaret Valois Duchess Berry and Savoy (age 35) were married. She by marriage Duchess Savoy. He by marriage Duke Berry. She the daughter of [her father-in-law] King Francis I of France and Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France. He the son of Charles 3rd Duke Savoy and Beatrice Aviz Duchess Savoy. They were half first cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In 1559 [her son-in-law] Charles "The Great" Lorraine III Duke Lorraine (age 15) and [her daughter] Claude Valois Duchess Lorraine (age 11) were married. She by marriage Duchess Lorraine. She the daughter of [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 39) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 39). He the son of Francis Lorraine I Duke Lorraine and Christina Oldenburg Duchess Lorraine (age 37). They were fourth cousins.

Henry II of France Dies Francis and Mary "Queen of Scots" Succeed

On 10th July 1559 [her husband] King Henry II of France (age 40) was killed whilst jousting in celebration of his [her daughter] daughter's (age 14) marriage to [her future son-in-law] Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 32). His son [her son] Francis (age 15) succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. [her daughter-in-law] 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 20th July 1559 [her son-in-law] Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 32) and [her daughter] Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain (age 14) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Spain. She the daughter of [her former husband] King Henry II of France (deceased) and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 40). He the son of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and Isabel Aviz Queen Consort Spain. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

Death of Francis II King France Charles IX Succeeds

On 5th December 1560 [her son] Francis II King France King Consort Scotland (age 16) died. His brother [her son] Charles (age 10) succeeded IX King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. [her daughter-in-law] Mary Queen of Scots (age 17) no longer Queen of France she returned to Scotland arriving at Leith 19th August 1561 after having been in France for thirteen years.

On 3rd October 1568 [her daughter] Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain (age 23) died.

On 26th November 1570 [her son] Charles IX King France (age 20) and [her daughter-in-law] Elisabeth of Austria Queen Consort France (age 16) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor (age 43) and Maria of Spain Holy Roman Empress (age 42). He the son of [her former husband] King Henry II of France and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 51). They were fourth cousins.

On 18th August 1572 [her son-in-law] Henry IV King France (age 18) and [her daughter] Margaret Valois Queen Consort France (age 19) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of [her former husband] King Henry II of France and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 53). He the son of Antoine King Navarre and Jeanne Albret III Queen Navarre. They were second cousins.

On 30th May 1574 [her son] Charles IX King France (age 23) died. His brother [her son] Henry (age 22) succeeded III King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.

Coronation and Marriage of Henry III King France

On 14th February 1575 [her son] Henry III King France (age 23) and [her daughter-in-law] 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 [her former husband] King Henry II of France and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 55). They were fourth cousins.

Around 21st February 1575 [her granddaughter] Claude of Lorraine was born to [her son-in-law] Charles "The Great" Lorraine III Duke Lorraine (age 32) and [her daughter] Claude Valois Duchess Lorraine (age 27). She died a year later. Her mother died in childbirth. She had given birth to nine children during the course of her sixteen year marriage; she was married aged twelve.

On 10th June 1584 [her son] Francis Valois Duke Anjou (age 29) died of malaria unmarried.

On 5th January 1589 Catherine Medici Queen Consort France (age 69) died.

Royal Descendants of Catherine Medici Queen Consort France 1519-1589

Francis II King France King Consort Scotland

Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain

Charles IX King France

Henry III King France

Margaret Valois Queen Consort France

Francis I Holy Roman Emperor

Elisabeth Therese Lorraine Queen Consort Sardinia

Ancestors of Catherine Medici Queen Consort France 1519-1589

Great x 4 Grandfather: Giovanni di Bicci de Medici

Great x 3 Grandfather: Cosimo de Medici "The Elder"

Great x 2 Grandfather: Piero di Cosimo de Medici

Great x 1 Grandfather: Lorenzo de Medici

Great x 3 Grandfather: Francesco di Simone Tornabuoni

Great x 2 Grandmother: Lucrezia Tornabuoni

GrandFather: Piero "The Unfortunate" de Medici

Great x 4 Grandfather: Francesco Orsini

Great x 3 Grandfather: Orso Orsini

Great x 2 Grandfather: Giacomo Orsini

Great x 1 Grandmother: Clarice Orsini

Father: Lorenzo de Medici Duke of Urbino

Catherine Medici Queen Consort France