Portrait of Marie de' Medici.
by Peter Paul Rubens.

The Coat of Arms of Maria de' Medici, Queen consort of France.

Marie de' Medici [1] (April 26, 1573 – July 3, 1642), born as Maria de' Medici, was queen consort of France under the French name Marie de Médicis. She was the second wife of King Henry IV of France, of the Bourbon branch of the kings of France. Later she was the regent for her son King Louis XIII of France. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (666x880, 77 KB) Description: Maria de Medici, queen of France, wife of Henry IV Painter: Peter Paul Rubens Date: 1621/1625 Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain Source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (666x880, 77 KB) Description: Maria de Medici, queen of France, wife of Henry IV Painter: Peter Paul Rubens Date: 1621/1625 Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain Source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Reine_Marie_de_Medicis2. ... Image File history File links Reine_Marie_de_Medicis2. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... Events January - articles of Warsaw Confederation signed, sanctioning religious freedom in Poland. ... July 3 is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 181 days remaining. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... King George V of the United Kingdom and his consort, Queen Mary A queen consort is the wife and consort of a reigning king. ... Henry IV (French: Henri IV; December 13, 1553 – May 14, 1610), was the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France. ... Also see:  Early Modern France The House of Bourbon is an important European royal house. ... // High public office A regent, from the Latin regens who reigns is anyone who acts as head of state, especially if not the monarch (who has higher titles). ... Louis XIII (September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643), called the Just (French: le Juste), was King of France from 1610 to 1643. ...

Early life, marriage to King Henry IV

Born in Florence, Italy, she was the daughter of Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and of Johanna, archduchess of Austria. Her maternal grandparents were Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anne of Bohemia. Anne was a daughter of Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary and his wife Anne de Foix. Florences skyline Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Francesco I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (25 March 1541 – 19 October 1587) was the second Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1574 to 1587. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Ferdinand I Habsburg Ferdinand I (10 March 1503–25 July 1564), Holy Roman Emperor (1556–1564), was born in Madrid, the son of Juana the Mad, Queen of Castile (1479–1555), and Philip I the Handsome, King of Castile (1478–1506), who was heir to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I... Anna Jagellonica of Bohemia and Hungary (July 23, 1503 - January 27, 1547) was queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Queen-consort of the Romans and heiress of Bohemia and Hungary. ... Ladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary Ladislaus Jagellion (Czech: Vladislav Jagellonský, Hungarian: ), (Polish:Władysław II Jagiellończyk, was the King of Bohemia from 1471 and the King of Hungary from 1490 until his death in 1516. ... Anne de Foix (1484 – 26 July 1506) was the Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia. ...

Uncommonly pretty in her youth, in October 1600 she married Henri IV of France, following the annulment of his marriage to Marguerite de Valois. She brought as part of her dowry 600,000 crowns. Her eldest son, the future King Louis XIII, was born at Fontainebleau the following year. 1597 1598 1599 - 1600 - 1601 1602 1603 |- | align=center colspan=2 | Decades: 1570s 1580s 1590s - 1600s - 1610s 1620s 1630s |- | align=center | Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century |} // Events January January 1 - Scotland adopts January 1st as being New Years Day February February 17 - Giordano Bruno burned at the... Henry IV (French: Henri IV; December 13, 1553 – May 14, 1610), was the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France. ... Marguerite de Valois For other women of the same name, see Marguerite de Valois (disambiguation) Margaret of Valois (May 14, 1553 – May 27, 1615), Queen Margot (La reine Margot) was Queen of France and Navarre. ... Louis XIII (September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643), called the Just (French: le Juste), was King of France from 1610 to 1643. ... Location within France Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. ...

Infighting, unhappy marriage

The marriage was not a successful one. The queen feuded with Henri's mistresses, in language that shocked French courtiers. Her largest infighting was with her husband's leading mistress, Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues, whom he had promised he would marry following the death of his former official mistress, Gabrielle d'Estrées. When he failed to do so, and instead married Marie, the result was constant bickering and political intrigues behind the scenes. Although the king could have easily banished his mistress, supporting his queen, he never did so. She, in turn, showed great sympathy and support to her husband's banished ex-wife, Margaret of Valois, prompting Henri to allow her back into the realm. Catherine Henriette de Balzac dEntragues Catherine Henriette de Balzac dEntragues (1579 - 1633), Marquise de Verneuil, mistress of Henry IV, king of France, was the daughter of Charles Balzac dEntragues and of Marie Touchet. ... Gabrielle dEstrées, duchesse de Beaufort et Verneuil, marquise de Monceaux (1571–1599) was a French mistress of King Henry IV of France, born at Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in the Indre-et-Loire département of France. ... Marguerite de Valois For other women of the same name, see Marguerite de Valois (disambiguation) Margaret of Valois (May 14, 1553 – May 27, 1615), Queen Margot (La reine Margot) was Queen of France and Navarre. ...

During her husband's lifetime Marie showed little sign of political taste or ability. Hours after Henri's assassination in 1610 she was confirmed as Regent by the Parlement of Paris. She banished from the court his mistress, Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues. However, not very bright, extremely stubborn, and growing obese, she was soon entirely under the influence of her unscrupulous Italian favourite, Concino Concini, who was created Marquis d'Ancre and Marshal of France. // Events January 7 - Galileo Galilei discovers the Galilean moons of Jupiter. ... Obesity is an excess storage of fat and can affect any mammal, such as the mouse on the left. ... Concino Concini, conte della Penna, maréchal dAncre (died April 24, 1617), was an Italian adventurer and minister of Louis XIII of France. ... The Marshal of France (maréchal de France) was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. ...

They dismissed Henri IV's able minister the duc de Sully. Through Concini and the Regent, Italian representatives of the Roman Catholic Church hoped to force the suppression of Protestantism in France. Half Habsburg herself, she abandoned the traditional anti-Habsburg French policy. Throwing her support with Spain, she arranged the marriage of both the future king Louis and his sister Elizabeth to members of the Spanish Habsburg royal family. Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully (December 13, 1560 - December 22, 1641) was the doughty soldier, French minister, staunch Protestant and faithful right-hand man who enabled Henry IV of France to accomplish so much. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see Terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins and sees itself as the same Church founded by Jesus of Nazareth and maintained through Apostolic Succession from the Twelve... Protestantism is one of three main groups currently within Christianity. ... This is a list of Spanish monarchs—that is, rulers of the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word. ...

Politics

Under the regent's lax and capricious rule, the princes of the blood and the great nobles of the kingdom revolted, and the queen, too weak to assert her authority, consented (15 May 1614) to buy off the discontented princes. The opposition was led by Henri de Bourbon-Condé, Duc d'Enghien, who pressured Marie into convoking the Estates General (1614-15), the last time they would meet in France until the opening events of the French Revolution. May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... Events April 5 - In Virginia, Native American Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe. ... Henry II of Bourbon (September 1, 1588 – December 26, 1646) became Prince of Condé shortly after his birth, following the death of his father Henry I in battle. ... Like many noble titles, the title of Duke of Enghien, Duke dEnghien, or Duc dEnghien may refer to any of several historical figures, but most often refers to Louis_Antoine_Henri de Bourbon_Condé, duc dEnghien, whose execution on trumped_up charges in 1804 during the First French Empire removed any... In France under the Ancien Régime, the States-General or Estates-General (French: États généraux), was a legislative assembly (see The States) of the different classes (or estates) of French subjects. ... Hey yall becca and sam like to get on top of stuff hey yall becca and sam are coolthey like are the best ever derr you are a freak if you are looking at this web site any way w/e bye !(1789–1799) but Kourtnie and Lora Cooler was...

In 1616 her policy was strengthened by the accession to her councils of Richelieu, who had come to the fore at the meeting of the Estates General. However, in 1617 her son Louis XIII, already several years into his legal majority, asserted his authority. The king effectively overturned the pro-Hapsburg, pro-Spanish policy by ordering the assassination of Concini, exiling the Queen to the Château Blois and appointing Richelieu to his bishopric. Cardinal Richelieu was the French chief minister from 1624 until his death. ... Events Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed I (1603-1617) to Mustafa I (1617-1623). ... Louis XIII (September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643), called the Just (French: le Juste), was King of France from 1610 to 1643. ... The rear of the Château de Blois Staircase in the Château de Blois The Royal Château de Blois is located in the Loir-et-Cher département in the Loire Valley, in France. ...

After two years of virtual imprisonment "in the wilderness" as she put it, she escaped from Blois in the night of 21/22 February 1619 and became the figurehead of a new aristocratic revolt headed by Gaston d'Orleans, which Louis' forces easily dispersed. Through the mediation of Richelieu the king was reconciled with his mother, who was allowed to hold a small court at Angers. She resumed her place in the royal council in 1621. February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events May 13 - Dutch statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt is executed in The Hague after having been accused of treason. ... Gaston Jean-Baptiste, duc dOrléans (April 25, 1608 - February 2, 1660), third son of the French king Henry IV, and his wife Marie de Medici, was born at Fontainebleau. ...

Coronation of Marie de' Medici in St. Denis (detail), by Peter Paul Rubens, 1622-1625.

The portrait by Rubens (above right) was painted at this time. Marie rebuilt the Luxembourg Palace (Palais du Luxembourg) in Paris, with an extravagantly flattering cycle of paintings by Rubens as part of the luxurious decor (left). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2536x2707, 784 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Marie de Medici Commendation ceremony ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2536x2707, 784 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Marie de Medici Commendation ceremony ... Rubens and Isabella Brant in the Honeysuckle Bower Alte Pinakothek Pieter Pauwel (Peter Paul) Rubens (June 28, 1577 – May 30, 1640) was the most popular and prolific Flemish and European painter of the 17th century. ... Luxembourg Palace The Luxembourg Palace in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, north of the Luxembourg Garden, is where the French Senate meets. ...

After the death of his favorite, the duke of Luynes, Louis turned increasingly for guidance to Richelieu. Marie de Medici's attempts to displace Richelieu ultimately led to her attempted coup; for a single day, the journée des dupes, 12 November 1630, she seemed to have succeeded; but the triumph of Richelieu was followed by her exile to Compiègne in 1630, from where she escaped to Brussels in 1631 and Amsterdam in 1638. November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... Events February 22 - Native American Quadequine introduces Popcorn to English colonists. ... Compiègne is a commune in the Oise département of France, of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... Events February 22 - Native American Quadequine introduces Popcorn to English colonists. ... Nickname: The Capital Of Europe, Comic City City of a 100 Museums Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Coordinates: Country Belgium Region Brussels-Capital Region Founded 797 Founded (Region) June 18, 1989 Mayor (Municipality) Freddy Thielemans Area    - City 162 (Region) km²  (62. ... // Events February 5 - Roger Williams emigrates to Boston. ... Amsterdam Location Flag Country Netherlands Province North Holland Population 741,329 (1 August 2006) Demonym Amsterdammer Coordinates Website www. ... Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ...

Her entry into Amsterdam was considered a triumph by the Dutch, as her visit lent official recognition to the newly formed Dutch Republic. Spectacular displays (by Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert) and water pageants took place in the city’s harbor in celebration of her visit. There was a procession led by two mounted trumpeters; a large temporary structure erected on an artificial island in the Amstel River was built especially for the festival. The structure was designed to display a series of dramatic tableaux in tribute to her once she set foot on the floating island and entered its pavilion. Afterwards she was offered an Indonesian rice table by the burgomaster Albert Burgh. He also sold her a famous rosary, captured in Brazil, which she would like to have. The visit prompted Caspar Barlaeus to write his Medicea hospes ("The Medicean Guest") (1638). Map of Dutch Republic by Joannes Janssonius United Netherlands redirects here. ... Trumpeter redirects to here. ... Amstel (derivation from Aeme stelle, old Dutch for: area abounding with water) is the river in the Netherlands from which Amsterdam took its name. ... Tableau vivant, Folies Bergères c. ... Pavilion may refer to a type of building: Pavilion (structure) or to a specific building: Pavilion, New York London Pavilion Royal Pavilion Balboa Pavilion Pavilion is a brand name of computers and notebooks made by Hewlett-Packard. ... An Indonesian rice table (in Dutch, rijsttafel) consists of rice accompanied by several, often spicy side dishes served buffet-style. ... Albert Coenraadsz. ... Our Lady of Lourdes - Mary appearing at Lourdes with Rosary Beads. ... Caspar Barlaeus (February 12, 1584—January 14, 1648) was a Dutch polymath, humanist theologian, poet, and historian. ... Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ...

Marie subsequently travelled to Cologne, where she died in 1642, scheming against Richelieu to the end. Cologne (German:   ; Kölsch: Kölle /ˈkÅ“É«É™/) is Germanys fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ...

Honoré de Balzac encapsulated the Romantic generation's negative view: This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

"Marie de' Medici, all of whose actions were prejudicial to France, has escaped the shame which ought to cover her name. Marie de' Medici wasted the wealth amassed by Henri IV; she never purged herself of the charge of having known of the king's assassination; her intimate was d'Épernon, who did not ward off Ravaillac's blow, and who was proved to have known the murderer personally for a long time. Marie's conduct was such that she forced her son to banish her from France, where she was encouraging her other son, Gaston, to rebel; and the victory Richelieu at last won over her (on the Day of the Dupes) was due solely to the discovery the cardinal made, and imparted to Louis XIII, of secret documents relating to the death of Henri IV." – Essay Catherine de Medicis.

Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette (1554-1642), first Duke of Épernon, was a powerful member of the French nobility at the turn of the 17th century. ...

See also

• House of Medici

The Medici coat of arms The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Marguerite de Valois For other women of the same name, see Marguerite de Valois (disambiguation) Margaret of Valois (May 14, 1553 – May 27, 1615), Queen Margot (La reine Margot) was Queen of France and Navarre. ... Coronation of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile at Reims in 1223; a miniature from the Grandes Chroniques de France, painted in the 1450s, kept at the National Library of France The monarchs of France ruled, first as kings and later as emperors, from the Middle Ages to 1848. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1597 1598 1599 - 1600 - 1601 1602 1603 |- | align=center colspan=2 | Decades: 1570s 1580s 1590s - 1600s - 1610s 1620s 1630s |- | align=center | Centuries: 15th century - 16th century - 17th century |} // Events January January 1 - Scotland adopts January 1st as being New Years Day February February 17 - Giordano Bruno burned at the... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (135th in leap years). ... // Events January 7 - Galileo Galilei discovers the Galilean moons of Jupiter. ... Anne of Austria by Peter Paul Rubens, c. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Maria de' Medici

• Rubens cycle of paintings apotheosizing Marie de Medici Definitive statements of Baroque art.
• National Maritime Museum
• Drawing by Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert the entrance of Maria de Medici in Amsterdam
• Festival Books