ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches, watercolor and gouache, September 2007 Catherine de Medici was born in 1519, the daughter of Lorenzo II de Medici, Duke of Urbini. Both her mother and father died within weeks of her birth. Aged 14 she was married to Henry, Duke of Orleans, the second son of Francis I of France. It was a huge occasion, and Francis stayed with the young couple in their bedchamber until he was sure the marriage had been consummated. However, things soon went wrong. The marriage had been arranged by Pope Clement VII - when he died in 1535 his successor Paul III refused to pay the dowry and to honour the Franco-Papal alliance that had been the reason for the marriage. Worse for Catherine, Henry was not remotely interested in her, preferring a succession of mistresses. The in 1536 his older brother, Francois, died leaving Henr as the heir to the throne. Catherine was under great pressure to produce children, especially after one of Henry's mistresses produced a child. In 1538 the 19 year old Henry took the 38 year old Diane de Poitiers his mistress and she was to dominate his life. Finally in 1544 Catherine produced a son, Francois, going on to produce a further nine children though only six survived infancy. Francis died in 1547 and Henry and Catherine became King and Queen. She had no influence and lived in the shadow of de Poitiers, whom she hated. In !559 Henry was killed in a jousting accident when a lance pierced his left eye and exited through his ear. He did not die for ten days, suffering terribly. Catherine took control of the situation and despite his repeated requests for Diane, she was refused access to him. After his death she was exiled. Francois and his young wife Mary, Queen of Scots were crowned King and Queen. However a year later he too was dead. Charles IX was only ten so Catherine became Regent and finally found the power she had long craved.