HENRI II
Just over a year after François’ son and heir was born, his wife Claude gave birth to a second son who was named Henri after his godfather, King Henry VIII of England.
In Florence, two weeks later, the Pope’s nephew became the father of a baby girl named Catherine. It did not take François long to see the possibility of a future marriage alliance between the two children which would bring him closer to the Pope Leo X. Plans were shelved when the Pope died two years later.
The new pope was a Dutchman and seen as an ally of François’ rival Charles V. However as it turned out, he died within less than two years in office and he was replaced by another Medici – Pope Leo’s cousin who became Pope Clement VII. The idea of a marriage between Catherine de Medici and Francois’ second son Henri was back on the agenda.
The marriage took place in Marseilles. The Pope accompanied Catherine who arrived with him on the papal fleet of 60 ships. The whole of the French court was there to join in the celebrations.
François did not have long to enjoy the situation. The year after the wedding, Pope Clement VII died and his replacement was hostile to the Medici’s.
François’ relationship with Henri had always been strained and now his marriage, rather than being an asset to France, was regarded as a “misalliance”. Catherine was not regarded as a noble, let alone royal. Henri largely ignored her but she managed to befriend his sister and navigate her way through the various factions at court.
Everything changed for Henri and Catherine less than three years after they were married.
François’ namesake, his eldest son and heir to the throne suddenly died at the age of eighteen. *
*The death was considered highly suspicious. He had been playing tennis and had his secretary bring him a cup of water. He collapsed shortly after drinking it and died within a few days. The secretary was an Italian count who had accompanied Catherine to France and immediately there were accusations of foul play. Some believed it was Francois’ ever present enemy, the Emperor Charles V who was responsible for organising the poisoning by the Count who he’d once employed. Under torture, Count Montecucculi made what is now
regarded as a false confession to that fact and he was executed.
Some believed it was Catherine and Henri who had poisoned his brother so that he could become King after François died. The reality is he probably died of pneumonia.
Henri was now heir to the throne of France.
The fact that Henri and Catherine had been married for three years without producing an
heir was now an issue.
The pressure on Catherine intensified the following year. Henri had accompanied his father to war in Italy and had a very brief affair (one night it seems) with a young Italian girl named Filippa Duci. He was soon delighted to learn she had become pregnant. The daughter was named Diane and brought to France.
Filippa remained in France. When the child was two years old, François gave Filippa an annual payment of 400 livres for life. Diane was brought up at the French court with Henri’s other children. Her excellent education was supervised by her namesake Diane de Poitiers.
Some sources say Filippa married an Italian gentleman who was working for the King. She remained in France and some years later was in the position to buy a property in the Loire Valley near Bléré, very close to Chenonceau. She became known as the Dame de Bléré.
In an interesting twist, it seems that at the age of 62 Filippa was one of Catherine de Medici’s ladies in waiting. Four years later she died at her property, which she left to Diane.She was buried with the French version of her name – Philippe Desducs.
Finally after more than ten years of marriage, Catherine gave birth to a son they named François after his grandfather. Catherine and Henri made up for the late start by having ten children within twelve years.
When François I died three years after the birth of his namesake grandson he knew the succession was assured.
Henri II became King of France on his 28th birthday.
Virtually the first thing Henri did on becoming King did was to reinstate Anne de Montmorency to his place at the head of the court administration. It was a triumphant return for the man who had been banished from the court for the final seven years of François’ reign and who had been a father figure to Henri.
Henri II went on with the building works started by François, particularly at the Louvre and Saint-
Germain-en-Laye.
Henri II’s emblem appears on the section of the Louvre constructed during his reign. The H for Henri is interlaced with either a C for Catherine or a D for Diane, depending on who is telling the story. Henri probably enjoyed the ambiguity.
On buildings Catherine took ownership or built after Henri’s death (such as the Medici column in Paris) there is no question of a “D” for Diane.
It’s here you can see this large Henri II style* bed in the bed chamber he took over from his father.
*This was the original style of Henri II’s era, not to be confused with the “Henri II style” introduced into French décor in the 19th century as part of what was known as the “Second French Renaissance”. The Chateau of Amboise has renamed the “Henri II bedroom” to the “King’s Bedroom” to reflect the fact that other Kings, including François I, used the bed chamber.
Henri was in excellent health and seemed set for a long reign. However suddenly everything
changed.
At the age of 40 Henri was participating in a jousting tournament on what is now rue St Antoine, near Place des Vosges in Paris. As usual he was wearing his mistress Diane’s colours – black and white.