King Henri II's Wife and Mistress
During the 16th century, King Henri II of France's wife Catherine de Medici and his mistress Diane de Poitiers were rivals. Catherine was considered a formidable foe in her later life as the “serpent queen,” but she found herself ill-equipped to compete with Diane during her marriage.
Courtiers and rulers across Europe regarded Diane as the unofficial queen of France because she had Henri's love, lust and favour. He depended on her counsel and companionship. Catherine was disregarded for twenty-six years, but in the summer of 1559, she took her revenge on Diane—a moment that she might have dreamed about.
Early Similarities Between Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici
Catherine de Medici was born in April 1519 in the Republic of Florence. She was a member of the ruling Medici dynasty; her father was Lorenzo de Medici, Count of Urbino, and Catherine's French mother was named Madeleine. By the time Catherine was one month old, both her parents were dead. She was raised by her paternal grandmother and aunt Alfonsina d'Orsini and Clarice de Medici.
Diane de Poitiers was an aristocrat born to Jean de Poitiers and his wife Jeanne in September 1499 or January 1500 at the Chateau du Saint-Vallier in southeast France.
Her mother passed away in 1506, and Diane was placed in the household of Princess Anne of France (the eldest daughter of King Louis XI; she was also known as Anne de Beaujeu and "Madame la Grande"). Diane was well educated. She learned finance, etiquette, languages, music, riding, hunting and swimming.
Diane and Catherine shared the character traits of confidence, intelligence and dynamism.
Lady-in-Waiting to Three French Queens
Princess Anne arranged for fifteen-year-old Diane de Poitiers to marry Louis de Brézé, Comte de Maulevrier, Seigneur d'Anet. Royal courtier Louis was thirty-nine years her senior.
Diane was appointed as a lady-in-waiting to King François I’s mother, Louise of Savoy and then to François’ queens Claude and Eleanore of Austria. Henri, Duc d'Orléans, later King Henri II (1519-1559) was Francois and Claude’s second son.
Diane gave birth to two daughters, Françoise in 1518 and Louise in 1521. In 1531, Louis died, and Diane went to the law courts to secure his estate rather than allowing it to pass to a male relative. She became financially independent, and that was highly unusual at the time.
Diane first met Henri, Duc d'Orléans, when he was a child, and they had always got on well. Rumours surfaced that the adolescent Henri was in love with the beautiful widow Diane, but Henri was destined to marry another woman, Diane's cousin Catherine de Medici.
Diane Outshone The Royal Bride
Henri's dynastic match to Catherine de Medici, when they were both fourteen years old, was an extravagant event held in Marseilles, France, on 28th October 1533. Pope Clement VII officiated.
To ensure that the teenagers consummated the union on the wedding night, King François remained in the bedchamber until he was sure the deed had been done and that "each had shown valour in the joust." Not at all awkward!
Catherine barely saw Henri during the first year of their marriage. Diane de Poitiers became Henri's mistress in 1534, and she was officially termed as such from 1538.
At court, the more experienced Diane outshone the new Duchesse d'Orléans without too much effort. She had Henri's affection, and was clever, cultured and interesting. Henri blatantly ignored Catherine in public while caressing his mistress. When jousting, he wore Diane's colours.
From Dauphin and Dauphine To France's Monarchs
Henri's older brother Francois died from a post-tennis match fever in 1536, and as it was unexpected, speculation of foul play mounted. Catherine was one of several people accused of poisoning him. Henri was elevated to Dauphin or heir to the French throne, and Catherine was accordingly promoted to Dauphine.
Diane advised Henri to have children with his wife to secure the succession. He was slow to do so. Between 1544 and 1556, Catherine bore ten children. Henri placed Diane de Poitiers in charge of the royal children's upbringing. Diane secured her daughter Françoise's appointment as Premiere Dame D'honneur (head lady-in-waiting) to Catherine de Medici.
Diane was by Henri's side when he was proclaimed King Henri II in March 1547. He relied on her wisdom and not Catherine's throughout his reign. Official documents were signed HenriDiane, and Diane was acclaimed as the most powerful woman in France. She was cultivated by diplomats and royalty. Catherine was queen in name only; whenever she acted as regent for Henri, she had very limited powers and no political influence.
Chateau de Chenonceau
Henri gave Diane the early Renaissance Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley. This was a property that Henri knew Catherine desired for herself. He paid for Diane's Château d'Anet to be rebuilt on the site of her late husband's property. It was filled with commissions from her artistic protégés.
Diane received the titles Duchesse de Valentinois in 1548 and Duchesse d'Étampes in 1553, and the king awarded custody of the French crown jewels to her.
On 10th July 1559, Diane's time as de facto queen of France came to an abrupt halt when Henri died from sepsis after he sustained a jousting injury.
Catherine Finally Claims Power Over Diane de Poitiers
Catherine leapt into action; she was the mother of the new king, and she intended to wield her influence. Diane was banished from court and she was ordered to return the crown jewels and to give up the Château de Chenonceau in exchange for the slightly less grand Château de Chaumont, also in the Loire Valley.
Catherine was labelled the "Serpent Queen." She saw three of her sons reign over France, she engineered strategic marriages for her family members, and it's widely accepted that she was complicit in the 1572 St. Bartholomew's Massacre in which thousands of Huguenot protestants were butchered for their faith. Catherine de Medici dominated the French court until her death on 5th January 1589.
Diane's Grave Desecrated During the French Revolution
In contrast, after a brief residence at the Château de Chaumont, Diane retired to her property in Anet. She lived quietly, and she caused the royal family no problems. One day, Diane fell when out riding, and ill health dominated her life until she died on 25th April 1566.
A chapel was constructed on the grounds of Château d'Anet, and Diane was laid to rest there. During the French Revolution, her grave was desecrated, and her remains were thrown into a mass grave. In 2009, her bones were identified, and they were restored to their original grave in Anet.
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