MARIA de' Medici, queen of FRANCE. — Born in Florence on 26 April 1573. Daughter of Francesco II, grand duke of Tuscany, and Giovanna d'Austria. In December 1600 Henry IV married her as his second wife, divorcing Margherita di Valois (daughter of Caterina de' Medici).
In the view of political circles, M. was to bring the throne of France closer to the leader of the Huguenots, reconciling France with the Catholic house of Austria. But this objective was not achieved. The licentious conduct of Henry IV alienated M. from him, and she found a trusted support in the married couple Concini Concini and Leonora Caligai. Nevertheless, Henry IV wanted her to participate in affairs of government and introduced her into the Council. But she gave the impression of indifference and political incapacity. In 1610, when Henry IV had to depart on a military campaign, he appointed her regent. M. remained regent by confirmation of Parliament on the very evening of Henry IV’s assassination (14 May 1610). Her advisers were the two Italians who had already stood closest to her heart. Through them, the nobles obtained offices and favors. Concini turned them into a marketable commodity. In a short time he acquired great wealth and power: to a large extent, the government of France depended on him. In foreign policy, he served the Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs: the Treaty of Brosolo, threatening to Vienna, was denounced; the minister Sully, hostile to Madrid, was dismissed; 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, M.’s cousin. An armed uprising by 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 support elsewhere: Richelieu, court chaplain, who had championed the interests of the Church within the Estates General, was made secretary of State (1616). Now the counteroffensive came from Luigi XIII. He organized Concini’s arrest. On the night of 14 August 1617, the marquis of Vitry, captain of the guards, carried it out: Concini resisted and was killed. With his disappearance, the power of the Queen Mother came to an end. Luigi XIII began his government under the guidance of Alberto de Luynes, minister, duke, and marshal. M. left Paris on 3 May; she enjoyed a moment of renewed fortune with the death of Luynes. Luigi XIII accepted reconciliation with his mother, promoted and concluded by Richelieu. The latter was made a cardinal, and M., in April 1624, secured his entry into the King’s Council; he became its head, that is, the chief minister. M. was still able to dominate her son and impose her will even on Richelieu. In September 1625 she made him reluctantly accept the peace treaty with Spain concerning the Valtellina question. But their relations became irreconcilably hostile. Richelieu had his own program (restoring the sovereign’s prestige, humbling the nobles, returning European primacy to France...) and could not come to an agreement with the Queen, who wished to replace her son and subject France to Spain. M. attempted to have Richelieu dismissed. But on 10 November 1630 the King confirmed his confidence in Richelieu; the following day the Queen’s favorites were imprisoned or exiled. A few months later she too was exiled, to Compiègne, whence she fled to the Netherlands. She died in Cologne 12 years later (1642).