Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ... to her brother Pedro's physical infirmities, at his request was made regent. She displayed remarkable ability, especially in conducting the subsequent war with Spain. She had no children. 1638-1705. Catharine de Medici Queen of France. Wife of Henry ii. Daughter of Lorenzo de Medici, duke of Urbino in Italy. She was born in Florence. She was early left an orphan and was reared by her uncle, afterward Pope Clement vi. She was one of the chief ornaments of the court of her father-in-law, Francis I of France. By dissimulation, she ingratiated herself into the favor of every one, and even became intimate with the king's mistress, Diane de Poictiers. Though childless during the first ten years of her marriage, she afterward bore to her husband ten children. Three of her sons became kings of France, Francis ii, Charles ix and Henry iii. Her daughter Margaret, married Henry of Navarre. She was left a widow in 1559, and her son Francis ii, a weak youth, succeeded to the crown. He had married Mary, queen of Scots, and his uncles, the Guises, took the management of affairs and violently persecuted the Huguenots. Francis ii reigned but a year, and on his death was succeeded by his brother Charles ix, then eleven years of age. Catharine possessed the authority, though not the title of regent, and to counterbalance the power of the Guises, at first inclined to the king of Navarre and other Protestants. A civil war ensued, incited by the duke of Guise, who was killed, and peace for a time followed. Catharine now began to exhibit her dark and dissembling policy, and by acts of oppression, forced the Huguenots into another civil war. She subsequently resorted to treachery, when arms failed her. Her son, Charles ix was a pliant tool in her hands, altho