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Catherine de' Medici

Florence, 23 Apr 1519 – Château de Blois, 5 Jan 1589

9 facts3 sources

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About Catherine

Catherine de' Medici: Queen and Regent of France

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Catherine de' Medici’s birth in Florence in 1519. It also places her death at the Château de Blois in 1589. 12

By marriage to King Henry II of France, Catherine became Queen Consort of France, a position she held from 1547 to 1559. She also served as regent, joining these two offices with her role at the French court. 345

Catherine was the mother of the French kings Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III, as well as a cousin of Pope Clement VII. The period in which her sons reigned has been called the age of Catherine de’ Medici, reflecting her extensive but sometimes varying influence on French political life. 6

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born23 Apr 1519, Florencenot verified1 source
  • MarriedHenry II of Francenot verified1 source
  • Titleregentor Queen Consort of France, 1547–1559not verified1 source
  • TitleQueen Consort of France, 1547–1559or regentnot verified1 source
  • Died5 Jan 1589, Château de Bloisnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 23 Apr 1519

    Born in Florence

  2. 1544–1556

    10 children are born

  3. 1547–1559

    Queen Consort of France

  4. 5 Jan 1589

    Dies in Château de Blois, aged 69

Family

See the tree

Partner

Children · 10

During her lifetime

She lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Florence.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1510s · Catherine is born in Florence

What people wore

Restrictions on jewelry for young adults

Sumptuary laws issued in 1516 forbade residents under thirty from wearing jewels or pearls, though they were permitted to own no more than three rings decorated with precious stones.

Daily life

Dining arrangements in the home

Florentine homes lacked dedicated dining rooms; instead, tables were set up wherever convenient, such as in front of a fireplace during winter. Food was passed to diners who sat only on one side of the table.

Work

The Rhythm of the Working Day

Workdays began at dawn and ended at sunset, regulated by church bells, with the number of effective work days per year estimated at only about 230 due to numerous holidays. Apprenticeships typically started between ages 10 and 11 and lasted at least 3 years, with families sometimes paying masters to host and train their children.

Music

Popular Carnival Songs and Street Performances

Ordinary people in Florence during the early 16th century enjoyed carnival songs, which were popular secular tunes performed during processions, parades, and street revelry. These songs often featured witty texts about trade guilds or products, such as the Song of the Chimney Sweepers, and were sung by costumed groups.

At the table

Monotonous diet for poor Florentines

Ordinary families had a monotonous diet based on unsalted bread, which was supplemented with inexpensive vegetables such as onions, fava beans, and black kale, or legumes instead of meat.

Getting around

Value of pack animals in 1387

During the Renaissance, specialized mules were valued; a 1387 document records a mule's worth at 6.10 libbre, compared to 1.76 libbre for a donkey.

What it cost

Cost of footwear

While basic shoes were affordable at around 2 soldi, a pair of nice shoes could cost as much as 2 florins, equivalent to about 140 soldi.