The Tree of Europe · Person

Catherine de’ Medici

A Medici princess who became queen and regent of France. She attempted to preserve the monarchy’s balance during the Wars of Religion and the confrontation between Catholic and Protestant factions.

1519 – 1589Queen consort and Regent of FranceMedici · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Contemporary portraitCatherine de MédicisCircle of François Clouet · Sixteenth centuryWikimedia CommonsPublic domain · PDM 1.0 · Source

Biography

Life of Catherine de’ Medici

A Florentine heiress

The daughter of Lorenzo II de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino, and Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne, Catherine was born in Florence in 1519 and orphaned within days. Her great-uncle, Pope Clement VII, negotiated her marriage in 1533 to Henry, the second son of Francis I of France.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

Queen and mother of kings

Henry became the heir and reigned as Henry II from 1547. After his accidental death in a tournament in 1559, three of their sons reigned in succession: Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. Catherine acted as regent and exercised decisive influence, initially attempting to reconcile Catholics and Huguenots.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Wars of Religion

The Edict of Saint-Germain (1562) did not prevent civil war. The St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572), following the marriage of her daughter Margaret to Henry of Navarre, has weighed heavily on her memory, although the extent of her responsibility is debated. A patron of the Tuileries, she died at Blois in 1589, a few months before her last reigning son.

References: Treccani · Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 13 April 1519 Documented

Death: 5 January 1589 Documented

Role: Queen consort and Regent of France

Other recorded names: Catherine de Medici · Caterina de’ Medici

Dynasty: Medici · ES

Territories: France (ES) · Florence (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Regent · France · Regency Pending review1560–1563Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino · ESDocumentedMadeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne · ESDocumented

Partners

Henry II of France · ESDocumented

Children

Charles IX of France · ESFrancis II of France · ESElisabeth of Valois · ESClaude of Valois · ESHenry III of France · ESMargaret of Valois · ESFrancis, Duke of Anjou · ES

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

6 recorded claims · 1 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
13 April 1519
The authority record gives the birth as 1519-04-13.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Katharina, Frankreich, Königin · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
5 January 1589
The authority record gives the death as 1589-01-05.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Katharina, Frankreich, Königin · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (3/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino
The authority record identifies Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino (GND 11872908X) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Katharina, Frankreich, Königin · Relationships: father → GND 11872908X
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherDocumented
Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne
The authority record identifies Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne (GND 1204516375) as mother.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Katharina, Frankreich, Königin · Relationships: mother → GND 1204516375
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Henry II of France
The authority record identifies Henry II of France (GND 118548166) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Katharina, Frankreich, Königin · Relationships: spouse → GND 118548166
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (0/1 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
Regent · France · 1560–1563
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Biographical and contextual references (3)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.