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Elisabeth of Valois

Fontainebleau, 12 Apr 1545 – Aranjuez, 13 Oct 1568

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born12 Apr 1545, Fontainebleaunot verified1 source
  • MarriedPhilip II of Spainnot verified1 source
  • TitleQueen Consort of Spain, 1559–1568not verified1 source
  • Died13 Oct 1568, Aranjueznot verified1 source
  • MotherCatherine de' Medicinot verified1 source
  • FatherHenry II of Francenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 12 Apr 1545

    Born in Fontainebleau

  2. 1559–1568

    Queen Consort of Spain

  3. 1566–1567

    2 children are born

  4. 13 Oct 1568

    Dies in Aranjuez, aged 23

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During her lifetime

She lived through 3 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Fontainebleau.

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

The 1540s · Elisabeth is born in Fontainebleau

In the news1545

Famine causes bread prices to soar

In 1545, war-related famine caused bread prices in the region to multiply by five compared to 1540-1541 levels.

Getting around

Travel by foot and pack animal

Ordinary people typically traveled by foot, often moving in groups or convoys for safety, while merchants and those with cargo frequently relied on pack animals like mules and horses.

In the news1540–1549

Demographic and economic recovery

Following a period of war, the mid-16th century saw a demographic recovery, with the population reaching approximately 32,000 households and Pamplona hitting 10,000 inhabitants.

Daily life

Typical Lorraine Home Layout and Facilities

Lorraine homes of this period typically featured a central hallway, a windowless kitchen with a floor-level fire, and a single heated bedroom for the family. Livestock were often sheltered within the same building, and the attic served as a hayloft.

What people wore

Class-based clothing restrictions

Sumptuary laws in 1549 restricted the middle class from wearing velvet except on petticoats or sleeves, while artisans and peasants were forbidden from wearing velvet or silk entirely.

Music

The Vihuela in Everyday Life

The vihuela de mano, a six-stringed instrument resembling a modern guitar, was widely played in educated households for entertainment, rather than being restricted to royal courts.

At the table

Diet of poor vs. wealthy peasants

While wealthier peasants had access to various meats and fruits, poorer families primarily relied on a basic diet of soup, bread, and cheese. They often drank a local beverage known as picotte instead of wine.