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Catherine De Medici Research Paper

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Catherine de Medici Imagine caring for your children in your palace and getting news of your husband’s death. Now you are the ruler of a nation with all the responsibility of a king. This is what Catherine de Medici faced. Her life would be forever changed, yet she is remembered by France for her influence. She was important to history because she started a religious war in Europe to take power over France; something a woman had never done. She also built many of France’s lavish buildings. Catherine de Medici was born on April 13, 1519 in Florence, Italy. Her parents were Lorenzo II de Medici Duke of Urbino her mother was Madeleine de la Tour D’Auvergne from a prominent and ancient French family. Some of her family members included her Uncle Pope Clement VII and her cousin Pope Leo V. This is pretty important because Popes were the …show more content…

Bartholomew’s Day. This started a war against the Catholics and the Protestants which she thought would help her to maintain power in her hands. One of Catherine’s contributions was the construction of many lavish buildings in France which she donated to the French public. This included adding a new wing to the Louvre Museum, the design and construction of the Tuilleries Gardens, and the building of the Chateau Monceau. She also taught the French people how to use a fork and introduced to new food including the pea and many new sauces which she brought over from Italy. Catherine died on January 5, 1589 in Blois France after catching pneumonia from dancing too much at her granddaughter’s wedding. Sadly many of her buildings were destroyed and her artworks collections given away, but her contributions to theater and the arts live on today in the form of modern day ballets and opera. She is remembered as highly influential women in French history, and the French

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