Marie de’ Medici, a member of the influential House of Medici, became the Queen of France as the second wife of King Henry IV. Their marriage not only brought financial stability to the king but also introduced Marie to the complexities of the French court. Despite her disapproval of the king’s infidelity, Marie faced her own challenges with her trusted maid and her husband, who were resented by the king. Following Henry IV’s assassination, Marie was appointed regent for her son Louis, during which she relied heavily on the guidance of Concino Concini. Their rule, however, extended beyond Louis’ coming of age, causing tension between mother and son. Despite her political affiliations and subsequent exile, Marie is remembered for her patronage of the arts and the grand architectural projects she commissioned in Paris.
Quick Facts
- French Celebrities Born In April
- Also Known As: Marie de Médicis
- Died At Age: 67
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Henry IV, King of France
- Mother: Archduchess Joanna of Austria
- Children:
- Duchess of Savoy
- Nicolas Henri, Duke of Orléans
- Gaston, Duke of Orléans
- Henrietta Maria, King of France
- Elisabeth, Louis XIII, Queen of England, Queen of Spain
- Christine Empresses & Queens
- French Women
- Died on: July 3, 1642
- Place of death: Cologne, Germany
- Ancestry: Austrian Italian, Polish Italian, Hungarian Italian
- Cause of Death: Pleurisy
Childhood & Early Life
Marie de’ Medici was born on April 26, 1575 at Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy, as a scion of wealthy and powerful ‘House of Medici’. She was born to Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francesco I de’ Medici and his wife Archduchess Joanna of Austria as their sixth daughter. Despite facing challenges in her childhood due to her mother’s early death and negligence by her father, Marie received a sound education in line with the tradition of the family and developed an excellent base in fine arts.
Recommended Lists
- Taurus Women
- Queen of France
Marriage and Reign
Marie de’ Medici married Henry IV of France in October 1600 in a grand wedding ceremony in Lyon, France. The marriage was successful in terms of producing children, but it was not a happy one as Marie and Henry often fought over his mistresses. After Henry IV was assassinated, Marie was made the regent for her son Louis XIII by the Parliament of Paris until he came of age. However, her reign was marked by poor judgement and the influence of her conspiring maid Leonora “Galigai” Dori and her husband Concino Concini. This led to instability and revolt among the nobles and aristocrats.
Exile and Death
In 1617, King Louis XIII took control of the regal authority from Marie and the Concinis through a coup d’état. Marie was arrested and exiled to the Château de Blois. She managed to escape in 1619 but was easily overpowered by the forces of the King. After mediation by Cardinal Richelieu, Marie was reconciled with Louis and permitted to establish a court at Angers. She later joined back the regal council and re-constructed the Palais du Luxembourg with extravagant decorations. However, her power diminished with the rise of Richelieu, and she conspired against him but was ultimately forced to flee to Compiègne and later to Brussels. Marie continued to plot against Richelieu until her death in Cologne in 1642.
Personal Life & Legacy
Marie de’ Medici married King Henry IV of France in 1600 and had several children, including Louis XIII, who became the future King of France. She had a strained relationship with Henry IV due to his numerous extramarital affairs. After his assassination, Marie became the regent for her son and expelled Henry’s leading mistress from the court. Marie died on July 3, 1642, in Cologne and was buried in the Basilica of St Denis, Paris.