MARIE DE' MEDICI, Queen of France. - B. in Florence on 26 Apr. 1573. Daughter of Francesco II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and of Joanna of Austria. In Dec. 1600 Henry IV married her as his second wife, having divorced Marguerite de Valois (daughter of Catherine de' Medici).
In the opinion of political circles, M. was to bring the throne of France close to the leader of the Huguenots, reconciling France with the Catholic house of Austria. But this aim failed. The licentious morals of Henry IV alienated from him the mind of M., who found trusted support in the spouses Concino Concini and Leonora Caligai. Nevertheless Henry IV wished her to take part in the affairs of government and introduced her into the Council. But she gave an impression of indifference and political incapacity. In 1610 Henry IV, being about to leave for a military campaign, appointed her regent. M. remained regent by confirmation of the Parlement on the very evening of Henry IV's assassination (14 May 1610). Her counsellors were the two Italians who were already closest to her heart. Through them, the nobles obtained offices and favours. Concini made a trade of them. In a short time he acquired great wealth and power: the government of France depended, for the most part, on him. In foreign policy, she served the Habsburgs of Austria and of Spain: the treaty of Brosolo, menacing to Vienna, was denounced; the minister Sully, hostile to Madrid, was removed; a treaty of defensive alliance with Spain was signed.
The government of a foreigner irritated the princes of the blood and stirred up intrigues and opposition in court circles. Its principal leader was the prince of Condé, cousin of M. An armed rising of Condé forced the Queen to buy another truce at a high price: Condé was received as a friend and became head of the Council. Nevertheless, he persisted in a policy of conspiracy, and Concini had him arrested. M. sought a point of support in others: Richelieu, court chaplain, who in the States General had championed the interests of the Church, was made secretary of state (1616). Now the counter-attack comes from Louis XIII. He organizes the arrest of Concini. On the night of 14 Aug. 1617, the marquis of Vitry, captain of the guards, is its executor: Concini resists: he is killed. With his disappearance the power of the Queen Mother ceases. Louis XIII begins his government under the guidance of Albert de Luynes, minister, duke and marshal. M. left Paris on 3 May; she had a moment of good fortune again with the death of Luynes. Louis XIII accepted reconciliation with his mother, promoted and concluded by Richelieu. The latter was elected cardinal and M., in Apr. 1624, obtained that he should enter the king's Council; he became its head, that is, the directing minister. M. could still dominate her son and impose her own will even on Richelieu himself. In Sept. 1625 she made him accept, unwillingly, the peace treaty with Spain in the Valtellina question. But their relations became hostilely irreconcilable. Richelieu had a programme of his own (to restore the prestige of the sovereign, to humble the nobles, to give France back its European primacy...) and could not agree with the Queen, who wanted to take her son's place and make France subservient to Spain. M. attempted to have Richelieu dismissed. But on 10 Nov. 1630 the King confirmed his own confidence in Richelieu; on the following day the Queen's favourites were imprisoned or exiled. A few months later she too was exiled, to Compiègne, whence she fled to the Netherlands. She died at Cologne 12 years later (1642).
Bibliography4 works
Ettore Rota