Catherine de' Medici, Governor of Siena
Encyclopedia
Caterina de' Medici was Duchess of Mantua and Montferrat as the second wife of Duke Ferdinando and Goveror of Siena from 1627. She was the second daughter of Grand Duke Ferdinando I of Tuscany
and his wife Christina of Lorraine. She had no issue.
, was born in Florence
on 2 May 1593. Caterina was considered as a potential spouse to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
, heir to the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, but his Anglican religion presented an insurmountable barrier. Nevertheless, she married in 1617 Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Monteferrat; the marriage, however, was childless. Upon being made a widow in 1626, she returned to Tuscany. Her nephew, Grand Duke Ferdinando II
, created her Governess of Siena in 1627, where she died of smallpox
two years later. In later life, Caterina garnered a reputation for intense piety. Historian Colonel G.F. Young asserts that she bore a striking resemblance to her brother Cosimo II
and sister Claudia
. She was interred in the Medicean necropolis, the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, having succeeded his older brother Francesco I.-Biography:...
and his wife Christina of Lorraine. She had no issue.
Biography
The second daughter and third child of Grand Duke Ferdinando I and Christina of Lorraine, Caterina, named after the eponymous Queen of FranceCatherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
, was born in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
on 2 May 1593. Caterina was considered as a potential spouse to Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
, heir to the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, but his Anglican religion presented an insurmountable barrier. Nevertheless, she married in 1617 Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Monteferrat; the marriage, however, was childless. Upon being made a widow in 1626, she returned to Tuscany. Her nephew, Grand Duke Ferdinando II
Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Ferdinando II de' Medici was grand duke of Tuscany from 1621 to 1670. He was the eldest child of Cosimo II de' Medici and Maria Maddalena of Austria. His 49 year rule was punctuated by the terminations of the remaining operations of the Medici Bank, and the beginning of Tuscany's long economic...
, created her Governess of Siena in 1627, where she died of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
two years later. In later life, Caterina garnered a reputation for intense piety. Historian Colonel G.F. Young asserts that she bore a striking resemblance to her brother Cosimo II
Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo II de' Medici was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of the then incumbent Grand Duke and Christina of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria, and had eight children....
and sister Claudia
Claudia de' Medici
Claudia de' Medici was a daughter of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Christina of Lorraine...
. She was interred in the Medicean necropolis, the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Titles and styles
- 2 May 1593 - 16 February 1617 Her Highness Caterina de' Medici
- 16 February 1617 – 29 October 1626 Her Highness The Duchess of Mantua
- 29 October 1626 - 1627 Her Highness The Dowager Duchess of Mantua
- 1627 - 17 April 1629 Her Highness The Governor of Siena