On April 13, 1519, one of the most controversial and sinister figures in French history was born - Queen Catherine de 'Medici, wife of King Henry II of France. Someone calls her the bloodiest and cruel queen, while others consider her an unhappy mother and unloved wife. It was she who gave the signal for the beginning of the massacre, which was called the St. Bartholomew's Night. What really was her role in the bloody events?
Left - Unknown artist. Catherine de Medici. Right - Francois Clouet. Portrait of Henry II
At the age of 14, Catherine de Medici was married to Heinrich de Valois. In marriage, she was never happy. Henry this union was beneficial because of the Medici relationship with the Pope. The French showed Catherine an outright hostility, they called her a "merchant's wife" and an ignoramus. Soon after his marriage, Henry had a favorite - Diane de Poitiers. She became one of the most influential persons in France, and Catherine had to put up with this.
Francois Clouet. Portraits of Catherine de Medici, c. 1555
Adherents of the point of view that Catherine de Medici was obsessed with the idea of absolute power and for the sake of her goal did not stop at anything, accuse her of poisoning, intrigue, bloody massacres of opponents and even black magic. So, according to one version, Henry II ascended the throne after Catherine poisoned the crown prince.
Francois Clouet. Portrait of Henry II
In 1559, Henry II died of a tournament injury. Francis II came to power, but in fact the country was ruled by Catherine de Medici. After the death of her husband, until the end of her days, Catherine wore only black as a sign of mourning, for 30 years. It was she who introduced the fashion for black in clothes; before her, white was a mourning color. Because of this habit, the Medici have been nicknamed the "black queen", although it is believed that this is not the only reason for such a nickname.
Francois Dubois. St. Bartholomew's night. XVI century
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One of the bloodiest events in French history is associated with the name of Catherine de Medici. By inviting the Huguenots to her daughter's wedding to Henry of Navarre, the queen set a trap for them. On the night of August 23-24, 1572, on her orders, Catholics killed about 3,000 Huguenots. It was on the eve of St. Bartholomew, so the night was named Bartholomew. The massacre continued for several days throughout France, during which time about 8,000 Huguenots were exterminated. Bandits took advantage of the general turmoil, robbing and killing Parisians, regardless of their religious views.
St. Bartholomew's night. Old engraving
However, some historians deny direct involvement of the Medici in this event. They admit the possibility that she was not aware of the impending attack at all. That night, the situation got out of control, and in order not to admit it, she was later forced to take responsibility for what happened. According to this version, the queen only wanted to get rid of the leader of the Huguenots, Admiral de Coligny and his associates, but the planned political assassination escalated into a massacre.
Francois Clouet. Portraits of Catherine de Medici
Catholics have long been at enmity with the Huguenots. Some areas were subject only to the local nobility. There was a threat to lose control over the entire state. After the assassination attempt on Admiral de Coligny, Catherine feared an uprising and therefore decided to strike first. However, there is no strong evidence that the killings were premeditated and that this plan belonged to the Queen.
St. Bartholomew's night. Old engraving
The historian V. Balakin believes that Catherine de Medici for 30 years restrained the forces of anarchy and defended the state and dynasty from their destructive influence, and this is her undoubted merit. A contemporary of the queen, the French humanist Jean Boden thought differently: “If the sovereign is weak and angry, then he creates tyranny, if cruel, he organizes a massacre, if he is disbanded, he will arrange a brothel, if he is greedy, he will skin his subjects, if he is indomitable, he will suck blood and the brain. But the most terrible danger is the intellectual unsuitability of the sovereign."
St. Bartholomew's night. Old engraving
The Queen died at the age of 69. Shortly after her death, the last of her sons - Henry III - was killed. So the Valois dynasty ceased to exist.
