Catherine de´ Medici

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Catherine de' Medici (Florence, 13 April 1519 – Château de Blois, 5 January 1589) was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

In 1533, at the age of fourteen, Caterina married Henry, second son of King Francis I and Queen Claude of France. Under the gallicised version of her name, Catherine de Médicis, she was Queen consort of France as the wife of King Henry II of France from 1547 to 1559. Throughout his reign, Henry excluded Catherine from participating in state affairs and instead showered favours on his chief mistress, Diane de Poitiers, who wielded much influence over him.

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Henry's death thrust Catherine into the political arena as mother of the frail fifteen-year-old King Francis II. When he died in 1560, she became regent on behalf of her ten-year-old son King Charles IX and was granted sweeping powers. After Charles died in 1574, Catherine played a key role in the reign of her third son, Henry III. He dispensed with her advice only in the last months of her life.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Catherine's three sons reigned in an age of almost constant civil and religious war in France. The problems facing the monarchy were complex and daunting. At first, Catherine compromised and made concessions to the rebelling Protestants, or Huguenots, as they became known. She failed, however, to grasp the theological issues that drove their movement.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Later, she resorted in frustration and anger to hard-line policies against them. In return, she came to be blamed for the excessive persecutions carried out under her sons' rule, in particular for the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572, in which thousands of Huguenots were killed in Paris and throughout France.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Some historians have excused Catherine from blame for the worst decisions of the crown, though evidence for her ruthlessness can be found in her letters. In practice, her authority was always limited by the effects of the civil wars. Her policies, therefore, may be seen as desperate measures to keep the Valois monarchy on the throne at all costs, and her patronage of the arts as an attempt to glorify a monarchy whose prestige was in steep decline.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

Without Catherine, it is unlikely that her sons would have remained in power. The years in which they reigned have been called "the age of Catherine de' Medici".

[am1966ath]

Beautiful video but Catherine de Medici lived in the 16th century, the romantic early 20th swedish romantic music seems out of place..why don t play a pavanne or a gavotte..or a volta.

[Caecarulf]

@88hanimart88 Merci, merci Annie!! You are so kind!

Feel so exhausted of all taxidriving the last days...I mean...nights! It´s really hot here in Sweden right now...and that is something unusual in this country, that has so long winters. Yes, history is interesting...love to read about different countries history. Have you seen my video about Mexico? I wish I could been better on languages...but I have no talent on this area...so pitty.

Bonjour Annie!

Ulf

[boscoducale]

Very beautiful video. A wonderful mix of photos and music. Surely 5 stars.

[Caecarulf]

Grazie, grazie...

Bonjourno!

Ulf

[Poldark3]

I loved this & I admire Catherine de Medici.This video is beautiful.

[Caecarulf]

Thanks...:)

Ulf

[KoreanMale12]

music is beautiful, palace with beauty of garden sort of :).

[muesdale]

very nice to listen to, jUSSI BJORLING has a good vocal version.

[StevenDavidPlissken]

Wonderful! Lasse Von Krusenstjerna. ;o)

[RomydeJesus]

Excelente!

Very nice.

Romy

[Caecarulf]

Gracias!!

Ulf

[illyria1774]

Very beautiful melody

[Caecarulf]

Merci my friend! Yes I thougt it can fit for this history-romantic-video. I have red a lot of french history because I believe that I have strong roots from there...Pau (Bernadotte)...Normandie (Gagge)...Belgium (Fasin/Fassing, Piette, Hero/Henrot, Derheu)

Bonjour! Vive la France!

Ulf

[Caecarulf]

Have you heard my song: "Lamour"? The demo-singel had been sent to Paris...Lyon...

Ulf

[Caecarulf]

I can also tell you my friend, that I have write a letter to the former President of France: Jacques Chirac and asked if he could help me with an DNA-test (Bernadottes living in France), and I got an kind answer too!

Ulf

[Caecarulf]

The french-german Television Company: Arte has done a program about Jean Baptiste Bernadotte...thats so great! They have a trailer on the program out here on You Tube, see that!

Ulf

[Silfwerarm]

very nice, ulf

[Caecarulf]

Thankyou very much!

Ulf