Good Morning To Everyone,

Catherine de Medici was born named Caterina Maria Romola di Lorenzo de' Medici in Florence, Italy as the only child of Lorenzo de Medici II and his wife, Madeleine de' La Tour d'Auvergne, the daughter of Jean I de La Tour, Comte d'Auvergne et de Lauraguais, and his wife, Jeanne de Bourbon (Jeanne was also listed as Catherine of Bourbon).

Catherine was married in an arranged marriage to King Henri II of France on October 27, 1533, in Marseille. Both she and Henri were only fourteen years old at the time of their marriage. Henri ws born at St. Germain-en-Laye on March 31, 1519, as the second son, but the eldest surviving son of King Francis I, and his first wife, Claude. Henri died in Paris, France, on July 10, 1559.

Catherine and Henri had ten children:

1. Francis II, the King of France who was born on January 19 (also listed as January 24), 1544. Francis married Mary, Queen of Scots, on April 24, 1558. Francis died on December 5, 1560.

2. Elizabeth de France, was born in Fontainbleau on April 02, 1545. Elizabeth married Phillip II, the King of Spain, as his third wife, on February 02, 1560, in Toledo, Spain. Elizabeth died on October 03, 1568, in Madrid, Spain.

3. Claude (or Claudia), who was born on November 12, 1547. Claude married Charles II, the Duke of Lorraine. Claude died on February 21, 1575.

4. Louis was born on February 03, 1449, and died in October, 1549.

5. Charles Maxilien, who was later Charles IX, King of France was born on June 27, 1550. He married Elizabeth of Austria, on November 26, 1570, in Paris, France. He died on May 30, 1574.

6. Edouard Alexandre, who later became Henry III, King of France, was born on September 19, 1551. He married Louise of Lorraine - Vaudemont on February 15, 1575. Henry III was assassinated on August 02, 1589.

7. Marguerite de Valois was born on May 14, 1553, at St. Germain-en-laye. She married Henry III, King of Navarre, who later became King Henry IV, on August 18, 1572, in Paris, France. The marriage was annulled in 1599. Marguerite died on March 27, 1615, in Paris, France.

8. Hercule (Francois, Duke of Alencon and Anjou), was born on March 18, 1555. He died on June 19, 1584.

9. Jeanne (A Twin to Victoire), was born on June 24, 1556, and died at birth.

10. Victoire (A Twin to Jeanne), was born on June 24, 1556. Victoire died on August , 1556, at the age of two months.

Catherine's husband, King Henri II, died on July 10, 1559, in Paris, France.

Catherine died at the Royal Chateau Blois, France, on January 05, 1589. Today, visitors to the castle can see her poison cabinets. She was interred with her husband in a cadaver tomb in the Saint Denis Basilica.


(Courtesy of Assorted Articles. Please refer to Part I for the complete list of Articles which were consulted.)