Birth of Louise de Lorraine, Queen consort of France
Louise was born on 30th April 1553, the daughter of Nicolas of Lorraine, Duke of Mercœur and Marguerite d’Egmont.
Louise’s mother died within a year of her birth and her father married Jeanne de Savoye.
Jeanne was a caring, loving stepmother and ensured Louise was given a solid classical education.
Jeanne introduced Louise to the court at Nancy, at the age of ten.
Jeanne died when Louise was fifteen, and her father married for a third time to Catherine of Lorraine.
These various wives produced many half-brothers and sisters for Louise.
Catherine was only three years older than Louise, and showed favoritism to her own children at the expense of Louise.
Louise’s father did nothing to stop the mistreatment and neglect at the hands of her stepmother.
Louise was no longer allowed to participate in the diversions of her father’s court.
Catherine gave certain luxuries and privileges that were due to Louise, to her own daughters.
Louise was given a room in a distant part of the palace where she lived in isolation.
These circumstances made Louise quiet, serious, gentle in temperament, sensitive and pious.
Louise lived her secluded life, going on benevolent missions, praying, reading, making pilgrimages to the shrine of St. Nicholas, embroidering and studying.
She had many inquiries for her hand in marriage, but nothing was properly secured.
Meanwhile, Dowager Queen Catherine de’Medici was doing everything within her power, to find a bride for her son Henri.
Because Henri was the third son of King Henri II, there was little chance he would sit on the throne of France.
In 1573, the Polish kingdom was looking for a ruler and elected Henri as their king.
In the autumn, Henri traveled to Krakow.
On the way, he stopped at the court of Duke Charles III of Lorraine, who was married to his sister Claude.
Claude had just given birth to a son, and they were celebrating his christening.
Because Claude was indisposed, the events were hosted by Catherine, Louise’s stepmother.
Louise was a part of Catherine’s ladies, and came to the attention of Henri.
Louise was by then nineteen years old, blonde and beautiful.
Henri requested Louise be introduced to him and give him a dance.
Henri rarely left the side of Louise during his stay.
He was charmed by her humbleness and gentle manners.
Henri’s brother, King Charles IX died in May of 1574.
Henri immediately returned to France to claim the throne.
Catherine de Medici began negotiations to marry him to the Swedish princess Elisabeth Wasa.
Henri however, had other ideas, and informed his mother of his choice of bride.
Catherine was disappointed in Henri’s choice as Louise was not a princess, and would not bring a large dowry to the arrangement.
But she realised she could not change Henri’s mind.
Hours later, messengers arrived in Nancy, to deliver letters to Louise’s parents, from King Henri and Catherine de’Medici.
When Louise woke the next morning, she was taken by complete surprise when her stepmother entered her room and curtsied to her three times.
Louise thought it was a joke and that she was in trouble for staying in bed too long.
When her father entered the room and bowed to her twice, she realised something serious was about to happen.
Three days later, Louise and her parents left for Reims, where Henri was to be crowned.
Louise was given a letter from Henri, a portrait of the king and a casket of jewels.
Henri was crowned at Reims on 13th February 1575.
The king immediately set out to reinvent Louise’s image.
Henri designed Louise’s wedding gown as well as other costumes for the wedding.
Louise seemed to enjoy the attention he gave her.
She was very patient and sweet-natured as Henri fussed over her.
While he was sewing one of the precious gems to her wedding dress, he managed to prick her skin with the needle.
Louise didn’t even make a cry over the injury.
Henri insisted on dressing Louise’s hair himself, and placed the diadem on her head.
The wedding took place in the evening of 15th February 1575.
They were married under a canopy of cloth of gold at the portal of Notre Dame de Rheims.
This was followed by a banquet, a ballet and a ball.
Reportedly, Louise fell immediately and deeply in love with her husband, a feeling that never changed – despite the difficulties, tragedies, and his infidelities.
Queen Louise did not have the necessary persuasive powers or experience to control her husband’s behaviour, or exercise any political power.
The French court seemed frivolous, but she was in awe of Henri.
She did not have the energy or the experience to command a circle at court, and was easily overshadowed by her mother-in-law Catherine de’Medici – who refused to lose her position as first lady of France.
Consequently Louise’s position at court was marginal.
Louise may have suffered a miscarriage in the spring of 1576, possibly ruining her chances of ever becoming pregnant again.
Even so, Henri and Louise continued to hope for a child, but sadly it appeared Louise was unable to produce a Valois heir.
Louise became thin with worry, and suffered bouts of melancholy.
It was well known at court that Louise and Henri rarely spent time together.
She did appear with the king on important occasions. But Henri appeared to tire of Louise’s company and preferred the company of his mistresses and Louise’s ladies-in-waiting.
Louise sought the company of her Ladies, prayed, visited hospitals, cared for the sick, performed acts of charity and patronised charitable foundations.
The people of Paris loved their queen, and came to appreciate her, for her sweet nature, beauty and piety.
In the spring of 1588, there was tension in the capital.
Henri had no male heir and the next in line was Henri of Navarre, who was openly Protestant.
The Catholic League, led by the Guise family, didn’t want to see a Protestant on the throne.
Hostilities increased and the king fled to Chartres.
Queen Louise and Catherine de’ Medici were put under house arrest in the Hôtel de la Reine.
Security was tightened around the two queens and a new government was installed.
Catherine tried to mediate between the government and the king and although Henri was stubborn, he eventually capitulated.
Queen Louise and Catherine were released from their captivity, and met up with Henri.
Catherine de’Medici died in January of 1589, and Louise attended the funeral.
Louise may have expected to take her rightful place at court but it was not to be.
In the summer of 1589, the Wars of Religion raged.
The authority of King Henri was severely destabilised. The Catholic League was supported by King Philip II of Spain, the protestant French Huguenots were supported by the Dutch and Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Henri went on campaign and said his goodbyes to Louise.
Louise became depressed at their separation, but little did she know, it would be the last time she saw her husband.
On 1st August 1589, Henri was staying with his army at Saint-Cloud, preparing to attack Paris.
A fanatical Dominican friar, Jacques Clément asked for an audience with the king.
Clément had brought false papers and while Henri read the papers, Clément stabbed Henri in the abdomen.
The wound did not appear to be fatal at first, and Henri was able to dictate a letter to Louise explaining what had happened.
However, the wound had perforated his bowel and he died on 2nd August 1589, aged 37.
Louise mourned Henri’s death greatly, and spent her widowhood in Chenonceau, in austerity.
Her apartments consisted of two chambers next to the chapel which was hung with black cloth.
Louise wrote many appeals to King Henri IV, asking for justice regarding the murder of her husband.
She went to seek an audience with the king, in the church of Notre Dame.
Louise fell at his feet and begged him to avenge her husband’s murder, and asked that his remains be taken to the royal mausoleum.
Henri promised to comply with her requests, as soon as he was able.
Louise returned to Chenonceau and spent the next seven years in seclusion.
In 1600, Louise moved from Chenonceau to the castle of Moulins.
Her health deteriorated and she died of dropsy on 29th January 1601, at the age of forty seven.
She was interred before the high altar in the chapel of the Capuchin nuns.
In 1688, her remains were moved to the chapel of the Capuchins in the Rue Neuve des Petits Champs.
Louise’s remains made several more moves, before finally being deposited in a vault at St. Denis in 1817.
🌺 Louise de Lorraine, Queen of France c.1575
After François Clouet