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Catherine was born in Florence, Italy. Lorenzo de Medici who was a Duke of Urbino and ruler of Florence was Catherine's father. Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne, cousins with Francis I the king of France at the time, was her mother. After 2 weeks of Catherine's birth, her mother died.
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Since Lorenzo II, Duke of Urbino and Madeleina de La Tour d'Auvergne were both ill short after their daughters birth they decided to baptize her in the church of San Lorenzo. The daughter's complete name was Caterina Maria Romula de Medici.
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Sebastiano del Piombo, Giorgio Vasari, and posibly Bronzino painted a portrait of Catherine. Leaving the painting unattended, Catherine and her friends sneaked in and added color to the painting. The artist although did not become upset. A Venetian ambassador described Catherine as small, thin, without fine features, and bulging eyes.
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At the young age of 14, Catherine's uncle Pope Clement VII arranged her to marry the duke of Orleans who was the second son of the king of France. Her husband was later known as Henry II.
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Francis II was Catherine's and Henry's first child. Later on he became king of France. He married Mary the Queen of Scots in 1558. Francis II died December 5, 1560.
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Charles was the fifth child. He married Elizabeth of Austria in 1570. Charles had one daughter but she died young. Charles died May 30, 1574.
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Henry III was the sixth child. In 1574, Henry III was the King of Poland for awhile. Henry III married Louise of Lorraine in 1575. He died August 2, 1589.
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Was the seventh child. She married Henry IV the king of France and later divorced him. Her wedding is well known because it took place on St. Bartholomew's Day of Maasacre. Margaret died March 27, 1615.
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A jousting event was held to mark the signing of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis which brought an end to France's and Spain's wars over Italy. Henry II was very tired and Catherine told him not to continue riding another course. But during the celebration, a lance pierced the eye and brain of Henry II. The poisonous wound bloated his face preventing him of sight, speech, and common sense/reason. Ten days later he was buried in Chateau des Tournelles in Paris.
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Catherine de Medici arranged that Michel de I'Hopital would assemble notables. Michel's children were Calvinist's. At that assembly she suspended the punishment of the heretics. She also said that the State Generals were to meet her in Orleans in December to seek religious peace.
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This event took place in Poissy France. Catherine wanted to ensure that the French church could reform itself without the pope's or general councils' help. The conference was between Calvinists and Catholic theologians and they wanted to reconcilliate their religious problems. The conference was not succesful because the opposing parties did not compromise on essential points.
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Catherine arranged her daughter Marguerite to marry the Protestant Henry king of Navarre. The celebration took place in Paris. Huguenot the leader of Coligny was murdered, as well as hundreds of other Protestants that attended the wedding. It's beleived and probable that Catherine was involved.
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Catherine died at the age of 70 and was buried in the church of St. Denis in Paris next to her husband. She is believed to have died due to pneumonia.
