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# 72 •novemBER 16 , 2015
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GREAT ITALIANS OF THE PAST:
Caterina de’ Medici
By Giovanni Verde
Caterina de’ Medici is a famous and controversial protagonist of legends questioning her behalf. She was one of the
most powerful and influential women
of 16th century Europe. She was born
in Florence on the 13rd of April, 1519,
daughter of Lorenzo II de’ Medici, duke
of Urbino, and of Madeleine de la Tour
d’Auvergne. He married Enrico II of France and gave birth to Francis II, Charles IX,
and Henry III. Her paternal great-grandfather was Lorenzo il Magnifico, while
her great-uncle was Pope Leo X.
Italian royal administration around her.
On the 10th of June, 1549, Caterina
was officially named Queen of France in
Saint-Denis basilica.
On the 10th of July, 1559, Henry II died
for an eye wound occurred during a
knightly jousting tournament. Caterina decided to dress in black as sign of
mourning. After Henry II, his first fifteen
son Francis II came to power. The 1560
death of Francis II, who was affected by
a congenital malformation was a heavy
blow for Caterina, but it allowed her to
She received an articulated education come to power, undertaking a policy
and was involved in the alliance between of tolerance and resolution toward relithe Pope and Francis I of France, his se- gious conflicts.
cond child Henry to be married by Caterina. The importance of Caterina’s dowry Caterina de’ Medici was mainly inspired
will serve to pay the royal finances’ debt. by two movements: the Erasmism, orienShe married Henry in 1533, with a luxu- ted toward a peaceful policy, and the
Neoplatonism, predicating the divine
rious and majestic celebrations.
mission of the ruler to achieve political
When Francis died in March 1547, Hen- harmony. On the 17th of January, 1562,
ry of Orléans became Henry II and Ca- Caterina de’ Medici emanates the revoterina queen of France. Caterina begun lutionary Edict of January, which queto gradually build up an always more stioned the sacred bound between po-
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