YOUNG HENRI AND “LA REINE MARGOT”
Jeanne, Queen of Navarre, negotiated the marriage of her son Henri with Catherine de Medici’s daughter Marguerite. Jeanne died shortly before the wedding which meant that the nineteen year old was now Henri III, King of Navarre and his new bride was the Queen of Navarre.
The marriage was a disaster and they lived separate lives. One thing they had in common was that their individual love lives became legendary , inspiring authors from Shakespeare to Dumas, as well as numerous movies including “La Reine Margot”. Henri is reported to have had 33 mistresses. He came to be called the “Vert Galant”, which in French is a complimentary expression and a much nicer way of saying, “dirty old man”.
The only bed we have associated with Henri is his cradle, which can be found in the Chateau of Pau where he was born.
Before we visit the cradle, we’ll briefly review the history of –
Beds for Babies
During the Middle Ages, it was common for the whole family to sleep in one bed. For a baby this often proved lethal, with the baby being suffocated during the night or falling out of the bed. A cradle was the solution.
Cradles came in different forms, largely reflecting the social class of the family. The lower classes were more likely to make a simple cradle out of planks. Another option for those who could not afford an iron, wicker or wood cradle was hanging a hessian bag for the baby to sleep in.
The traditional cradles used by wealthier families would be passed down from generation to generation.
It was considered beneficial for the baby’s health to live with a wet nurse in the countryside. This practice was common among aristocrats. In a time of high infant mortality, this healthy start to life for the first year or two was considered desirable. Working class parents also tried to give their children
the same advantages if they could find the money.
