Catherine de Medici (1519-1589), Queen Consort of Henri II

[KrissyM]

To be honest I wasn't keen on the writer's style. That of course is subjective. However I'm uncertain of the author's assertion that Diane de Poitiers "hated sex." If only because it's impossible to determine that about a person dead for 500yrs.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Wow.. this is the first time I have heard of the idea that Diane hated sex!

If true...how was she able to keep Henri II in sexual and romantic thrall for basically his entire adult life?

 

[KrissyM]

I've asked myself that same question. Although I am very unmarried and very single I am a woman and the idea that a woman could have a 22 yr affair and hate sex makes no sense. Especially if that woman is 18yrs older than her lover... That sentence had no sighted source obviously.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Robert Knecht was one of my lecturers whilst I was doing my history degree. Unfortunately, ex-students don't get a discount on his books, and I can't afford them either. And I think I annoyed him by preferring the Russian and Austrian elements of the European history modules to the French modules .

Lucky you to have had that honour,I have several of his excellent books on the Valois kings and Wars of Religion in France.

 

[KrissyM]

I agree too bad there are none of his lectures on YouTube.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Diane's daughter Françoise de Brézé served as a lady in waiting to Queen Catherine up until 1570.


Françoise de Brezé , Duchess of Bouillon and Countess of Maulévrier
1515-1577

 

[KrissyM]

Yes she was both the de Breze daughters, were interesting in their own rights.

BTW I found my research on Anne's suspected Treason in, "Herni II the Court and His Times" by H. Noel Williams Chapter 16. TBH I believe he hated his subject and loved Francis I so much that he wrote it as sort of a manifesto to make Francis seem like the best of the Valois kings.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Both sisters died in 1577

Louise de Brézé,Duchess of Aumale died in January 1577.
Françoise de Brézé ,Duchess of Bouillon in October 1577.

Both of them were related to the French Royal family via their father Louis de Brézé,Count of Maulévrier who's mother Charlotte was the illegitimate daughter of Charles VII of France.

 

[KrissyM]

Don't forget also Anges Sorel. Louis de Breze's father slaughtered his mother and her lover in her bed. Poor guy had it rough.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Queen Catherine along with her son Henri III attended the baptism of Charles d'Aumale at the chapel of the Château d'Anet where Diane and 2 of her granddaughters were buried in 1581.

 

[Blog Real]

Catherine de' Medici, as Queen consort of France, 1550s. Portrait at the Uffizi Gallery.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/KatharinavonMedici.jpg

 

[An Ard Ri]

The Valois Tapestries which were commissioned by queen Catherine in 1580 are also now in the Uffizi Museum in Florence.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valois_Tapestries

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Catherine de Medici was referred to as The Serpent Queen.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Catherine de Medici was referred to as The Serpent Queen.

You can read more on Catherine and the dark legends surrounding her

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-many-myths-of-catherine-de-medici-180980722/

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Francois Hercule, Duke of Alencon (1555-1584) was the youngest son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici.
http://www.maryevans.com/history/10467398

 

[An Ard Ri]

Francois Hercule, Duke of Alencon (1555-1584) was the youngest son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici.
http://www.maryevans.com/history/10467398

Francis was Duke of Alençon, Évreux ,Château-Thierry, Anjou, Berry, and Touraine, he was also Count of Perche, Count of Meulan and Count of Mantes.
Following his premature death aged just 29 his titles merged with the Crown and Henri III of Navarre became heir to the French throne.
Catherine was deeply alarmed by her son in laws claim and proximity to the throne.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Catherine de Médicis in her Widows Weeds

Catherine de Médicis with sons Charles IX and Henri III and her daughters-in-law, Elisabeth of Austria and Louise of Lorraine.

 

[An Ard Ri]

An excellent documentary and look at the life and times of Catherine de Médicis
From orphaned duchess to ,Dauphine, Queen ,Regent and Queen Mother of France.

 

[Elly C]

Such a fascinating woman, I first encountered her reading Jean Plaidy’s well researched and engrossing trilogy about her. She’s one of the most colourful queen’s in the European houses. Thanks for all the interesting posts in this thread.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Such a fascinating woman, I first encountered her reading Jean Plaidy’s well researched and engrossing trilogy about her. She’s one of the most colourful queen’s in the European houses. Thanks for all the interesting posts in this thread.

Yes indeed and such a powerful woman and for so long too!
Thank goodness she did not live to see the extinction of the House of Valois ,which she fought to preserve tooth and nail!

 

[An Ard Ri]

A look at the 'The Queens' War of 1562 and 1564,between Elizabeth and Catherine.
Elizabeth underestimated Catherine ,who was aware of this and played her part and turned the tables on Elizabeth and forced her into accepting a humiliating treaty.
Catherine was also deeply distrustful of the scheming English ambassador Sir Nicholas Throckmorton and had him placed under House arrest in Paris.