CATHERINE DE MEDICI
The French nobles who looked down on Catherine, were not taking into account her actual background. It was true she was no longer related to the Pope, who had died shortly after the marriage. It is also true that her father’s family, the Medicis, were by French standard, not nobles. But dismissing her as the daughter of merchants was misinformed. Catherine was half French and her mother’s French heritage was arguably more “noble” than many of the courtiers.
Catherine had her own entourage from Italy when she arrived in France. In spite of tumultuous periods during her childhood, she had been well educated. From the age of eleven she lived at the Medici Palace in Rome. Her “uncle” (in fact her grandfather’s cousin) Pope Clement VII had been patron of the most famous artists of the Renaissance period. She was able to see the most beautiful works of the Italian Renaissance.
It was an interest she shared with Francois I who enjoyed hearing her talk, in Italian, to the artists he had brought to France. He also was impressed by her ability to accompany him on the hunt, thanks to her ability to ride “en amazon” – the new side saddle fashion she had brought to France.
Catherine didn’t cause any problem with the people at the Court, avoiding the factions. She became close to François’ sister Marguerite and Henri’s sister. The only person who didn’t seem to appreciate her was her young husband.
No one was particularly worried about the fact Catherine and Henri had not had children during the first three years of their marriage. That changed dramatically when François’ eldest son and heir to the throne suddenly died, making Henri heir to the French throne.
Catherine took extraordinary measures to try to become pregnant but to no avail.
Read more
Beside a lot of praying, she consulted doctors, astrologers, alchemists and sorcerers.
She tried various recipes including some scary mixtures – “unicorn horn and ground ivory mixed with water, mare’s milk and rabbit blood mixed with sheep urine, hare’s blood and the back left paw of a weasel mixed with vinegar.”
She wore a belt of billy goat hair soaked in donkey milk and around her neck a sachet filled with toad ashes.
One of the tests for establishing the fertile period consisted of putting a garlic clove in the vagina for 12 hours, after which the breath should smell of garlic. Henri also had to endure various potions to extend the size of his penis etc.
As we have seen, the situation turned dire for Catherine after Henri fathered a child with Filippa Duci.
Diane de Poitiers, who had become Henri’s mistress around the time he became heir to the throne, did not want Catherine replaced as was being suggested at court. Catherine was fully aware of her precarious position and went directly to François and offered to have the marriage annulled. François, who had probably been in discussion about this possibility, was touched by her selfless stand and refused.
Finally a celebrated doctor named Jean Fernel identified the problem and Catherine gave birth to a son more than ten years after their marriage.
In the next twelve years, Catherine gave birth to ten children.
Read more
Henri had hypospadias (a birth abnormality where the urinary opening is not at the
head of the penis). On top of that Catherine had a tilted uterus (aimed backwards
toward the rectum instead of forward toward the belly). The missionary position
didn’t work for them, especially as they both had a problem. The solution was “en
levrette” (“doggy style”)
The one thing that initially united the menage a trois was a focus on the welfare of the
children.
When he became King, even though he was well into his affair with Diane de Poitiers, Henri was not seen as a player like François had been. He appeared to be devoted to his wife. Diane was 48 and it was easy to pass her off as a mother figure.
Henri had been King for twelve years when he organised celebrations for the double wedding of his daughter to the King of Spain and his sister to the Duke of Savoy. Part of the celebration was a joust in the centre of Paris. As usual, he was wearing Diane de Poitier’s colours – black and white.
Catherine had begged him not to joust. She was a big believer in astrology and Nostradamus had made a prediction which could have applied to him – that the young lion would be wounded in the eye during a duel and would die a cruel death. Another astrologer had warned him against all forms of combat when he was around forty. Added to this, Catherine had a nightmare the night before the joust where she saw Henri bleeding from the head.
Henri laughed it all off and went ahead, winning each round. It all seemed fine until he insisted on one last round. He didn’t realise he had not properly secured his helmet and was struck in the head, with one piece of wood penetrating his left eye and the other broken in his forehead above the right eye.
He was carried to the Hotel des Tournelles, the royal residence nearby, where he died of his injuries ten days later. Diane had wanted to see him, but Catherine was finally able to take control and she refused.
Henri literally died in her arms.
Catherine’s fifteen year old son was now King François II.
Catherine de Medici ‘s bed in the Chateau of Blois (where she died) is on a magnificent multi coloured tiled floor recreating the original. In most chateaux the original colour has worn off and cannot be appreciated.
Catherine de Medici bought the Chateau of Chaumont about three years after Henri became king. Her new chateau was exactly half way between the royal chateaux of Blois and Amboise.
Shortly after becoming King, Henri showered Diane with gifts and made her a duchess. He also gave her the Chateau of Chenonceau. When Henri died, Catherine forced Diane to swap it for her own chateau of Chaumont. Catherine turned Chenonceau into a party venue.
Although she remained the austere widow, always dressed in black, Catherine surrounded herself with beautiful young noble women—”the flying squadron” – who entertained the important men of the court and acted as spies for her.
