Henry II of France de Valois ¹

  General Notes:

Born in the Royal Château at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, the son of François I and Claude de France, his marriage was arranged to Catherine de Medici (April 13, 1519 - January 5, 1589) on October 28, 1533 when both were 14 years old. His long-running affair with Diane de Poitiers lasted throughout his married life.

He was crowned King on July 25, 1547 in the cathedral at Reims. His reign was marked by wars with Austria, and the persecution of the Protestant Huguenots. Henri II severely punished them, burning them alive or cutting out their tongues for speaking their Protestant beliefs. Even someone suspected of being a Huguenot was imprisoned for life.

Henry II was an avid hunter and participant in jousting tournaments. On July 1, 1559, during a match to celebrate the Peace Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis with his longtime enemies, the Hapsburgs of Austria and to celebrate the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth to King Philip II of Spain, King Henry's eye was pierced by a sliver that penetrated the brain, from the shattered lance of Gabriel Montgomery, captain of the King's Scottish Guard. He suffered terribly, passing away on July 10, 1559 and was buried in a cadaver tomb in Saint Denis Basilica.

He was succeeded by his son, François II. Henri II's death resulted in the next forty years in France being filled with turbulence as his sons and other claimants to the French crown fought for power. ²

  Noted events in his life were:

• He was a Duke of Orleans.

• Acceded: King of France, 1547.

Henry married Catherine of Florence de Medici, daughter of Lorenzo of Urbino de Medici and Madeline of Auvergne de la Tour, on 28 Oct 1533. (Catherine of Florence de Medici was born on 13 Apr 1519 in Florence, Toscana, Italy, died on 5 Jan 1589 in Royal Chateau Blois, France and was buried in Saint Denis Basilica, near Paris, France.)