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Charles IX of France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Charles IX | ||
|---|---|---|
| King of France | ||
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| Reign | 5 December 1560 – 30 May 1574 | |
| Coronation | 15 May 1561 (Ascension Day), Reims | |
| Full name | Charles-Maximilien | |
| Titles | Duke of Orléans (1550 – 1560) | |
| Born | 27 June 1550 | |
| Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France | ||
| Died | 30 May 1574 | |
| Vincennes, France | ||
| Predecessor | Francis II | |
| Successor | Henry III | |
| Consort | Elisabeth of Austria | |
| Royal House | Valois Dynasty | |
| Father | Henry II (1519 – 1559) | |
| Mother | Catherine de' Medici (1519 – 1589) | |
Charles IX (June 27, 1550 – May 30, 1574) born Charles-Maximilien, was a member of the Valois Dynasty, King of France from 1560 until his death. His responsibility for the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre has been disputed.
He was born in the royal chateau at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, third son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici, grandson of François I and Claude de France, and brother of François II and Henry III.
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After the death of his elder brother, Francis II, in 1560, he inherited the throne and was crowned King of France in 1560 in the cathedral at Reims. The politics of that era was greatly influenced by the power of the ambitious Catherine de Medici and the Guises.
During his reign a new product was introduced, designed to cure ulcers and heal wounds along with other such benefits. Tobacco soon gained wide acceptance.
He was made a knight of the order of the Garter on Sunday May 14, 1564 at St George's, Windsor, along with Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford and Sir Henry Sidney. That year, Charles IX issued the Edict of Roussillon fixing January 1 as the first day of the year.
On November 26, 1570 he married Elisabeth of Austria. They had one daughter, Marie-Elisabeth (October 27, 1572 – April 9, 1578). Charles IX also had an illegitimate son, the Duc d'Angoulême, from his mistress, Marie Touchet.
In 1572, Charles IX witnessed the massacre of thousands of Huguenots (Protestants) in and around Paris in what became known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
Charles IX did not long survive the Masssacre. He had always been fragile, both emotionally and physically: Emotionally, his moods now swung from coarse boasting about the extremity of the Massacre, to claims that the screams of the murdered Huguenots kept ringing in his ears. Frantically he blamed his mother: "Who but you is the cause of all of this? God's blood, you are the cause of it all!" The Queen-mother responded by declaring she had a lunatic for a son. [1].
Physically, Charles had never been strong, tending towards tuberculosis. The strain following the Massacres weakened his body to the point where, by spring of 1574, the hoarse coughing turned bloody and the hemmorrhages grew more violent. He became bedridden and delusional,
"What blood shed! What murders!" he cried to his nurse. "What evil council I have followed! O my God, forgive me...I am lost! I am lost!" [2]
On his last day, 30 May 1574,at Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, Charles called for Henry of Navarre, embraced him, and said, "Brother, you are losing a good friend. Had I believed all that I was told, you would not be alive. But I always loved you...I trust you alone to look after my wife and daughter. Pray God for me. Farewell."[3]
Charles was not yet twenty-four years old. The crown of France now passed to his brother, Henri III.
| House of Valois (Valois-Angoulême Branch) Cadet Branch of the Capetian dynasty Born: June 27, 1550 Died: May 30, 1574 |
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| Preceded by Francis II |
King of France December 5, 1560–May 30, 1574 |
Succeeded by Henry III |