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Youth, young marriage, mistress
Born in the Royal Château at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, the son of François I and Claude de France and the grandson of Louis XII of France and Anne de Bretagne, his marriage was arranged to Catherine de Medici (April 13 1519 - January 5 1589) on October 28 1533 when both were 14 years old.
Although he married Catherine in 1533, he became involved the following year with Diane de Poitiers, who was a 35 year old recent widow. She would become his most trusted confidante, and for the next 25 years she wielded considerable influence behind the scenes, even being entrusted to sign royal documents with his blessing. Extremely confident, beautiful, mature and intelligent, she left Catherine powerless to intervene.
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. Henry 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.
The Birth of French Cuisine
Catherine de Medici was disgusted by the cooking methods of the French and brought her chefs with her; they introduced to the French court and France the Italian method of cooking which is to compliment (bring out) the flavour of the main ingredients, rather than to cover up the taste of the main ingredient. This was the birth of French cuisine.
Jousting injury and death
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 Habsburgs of Austria and to celebrate the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth of Valois to King Philip II of Spain, King Henry was mortally wounded by a sliver from the shattered lance of Gabriel Montgomery, captain of the King's Scottish Guard. It penetrated the closed visor, pierced his left eye, penetrated the brain and came out via his ear. He suffered terribly, and, despite the efforts of royal surgeon Ambroise Paré, died on July 10 1559 and was buried in a cadaver tomb in Saint Denis Basilica. Prior to his death, Queen Catherine limited access to him, and denied access by his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, even though he repeatedly asked for her. Following his death, Catherine sent de Poitiers into exile, where she would live in comfort on her own properties until her death.
Henry was succeeded by his son, François II. For the next forty years following Henri II's death, France was filled with turbulence as his sons and other claimants to the French crown fought for power.
Marriage and Issue
On October 28 1533, he married Catherine of Medici (April 13 1519 - January 5 1589)
Henry II also had three illegitimate children:
- By Filippa Duci: Diane, Duchesse d'Angoulême (1538-1619). Some sources have stated that the little girl was the natural daughter of Henri's long-time mistress, Diane de Poitiers. This is probably not the case since Henry had Filippa Duci monitored closely throughout her pregancy, and there is a record of this. She gave birth to the baby in a convent and it appears that she remained there for the rest of her lfe. The younger Diane married (at the age of 14) Orazio Farnese, Duke of Castro. He died young in battle. Her second marriage was to François, Duc de Montmorency.
- By Lady Janet Stewart (1508-1563), herself an illegitimate daughter of James IV of Scotland: Henri de Valois (1551- June 1586). He was legitimized and became governor of Provence.
- By Nicole de Savigny: a son, Henri, whom Henry did not legitimize because he was unsure about his paternity. He gave him the title of Comte de Saint-Rémy.
Prophecy
Michel Nostradamus, the French astrologer known for his prophecies, first became famous when he allegedly predicted the death of King Henry II, as follows:
CI, Q 35 The young lion will overcome the older one,
on the field of combat in single battle,
He will pierce his eyes through a golden cage,
Two wounds made one, then he dies a cruel death.
The Italian astrologer Luca Gaurico, a contemporary of Nostradamus, is also said to have predicted the king's death.
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"Henry II of France"