On April 26, 1575, in Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, one of the most influential figures in 17th-century European history was born - Marie de' Medici.
She is one of the most controversial figures in French history, known for her power, intrigue and love of luxury.
Maria is the sixth child of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Francesco I de' Medici and Archduchess Johanna of Austria - daughter of Emperor Ferdinand I. Maria grew up without a mother, as Johanna died when she was only two years old. When she was 12, her father also died, making her the richest heiress in Europe.
On 17 December 1600, she married King Henry IV of France. This was his second marriage, largely due to the Medici's large dowry, which paid off the royal debts.
Maria gave birth to six heirs to France, who occupied key positions in the European courts:
Louis XIII - King of France, Elizabeth - Queen of Spain, Christina Marie - Duchess of Savoy, Nicolas Henri - Duke of Orléans (died young), Gaston - Duke of Orléans, Henriette-Marie - Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Marie de Medici remains in history not only as the wife of Henry IV, but also as the regent of France during the minority of her son Louis XIII.
She was crowned queen on May 13, 1610. Just a day later, her husband, King Henry IV, was assassinated by François Ravallac. To this day, the suspicion that she was an accomplice in the conspiracy has not been completely dispelled, since his death made her the absolute regent of France.
Marie abandoned Henry IV's traditional policy of opposing the Habsburgs and concluded an alliance with Spain, cemented by the marriage of Louis XIII to Anne of Austria.
During her regency, the real power was in the hands of the Italian adventurer Concino Concini and his wife Leonora Galligay, who was the queen's favorite. This caused great discontent among the French aristocracy. There were rumors of great influence and corruption, which ultimately led to Concini's assassination by her son, Louis XIII.
Her relations with Louis XIII were so strained that she organized several rebellions against him in an attempt to regain power.
Maria's reign ended abruptly in 1617 when Louis XIII took power, ordered Concini's assassination, and sent her into exile in the Château de Blois.
She initially supported the elevation of Cardinal Richelieu, but later turned against him. After an unsuccessful attempt to remove him (the so-called “Day of the Deceived“ in 1630), she was finally removed from the court.
Marie de Medici spent the last years of her life in exile across Europe (the Netherlands, England, Germany), losing her wealth and influence.
She died in poverty and loneliness on July 3, 1642 in Cologne, Germany, in the house of the artist Rubens, from whom years earlier she had commissioned the famous cycle of 24 paintings dedicated to her.
Her remains were later returned to France and buried in the royal basilica “Saint-Denis“.