Louise of Lorraine (1553-1601), The White Queen
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ull and pious, Louise of Lorraine worshiped her husband Henry III. Unable to have children, she had chronic depression. After […]
Henry III (1551-1589), The Hypocrite
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]omma’s boy and probably gay. Vacillated between doing drag and wearing too much jewelry to flailing himself bloody doing penance.
Elizabeth of Austria (1554-1592), The Kindly Bigot
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he wife and queen of Charles IX. Virtuous, beautiful and warm hearted. Devout in her piety to the point rigidity.
The Valois Dynasty Series
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Valois family dynasty ruled France during the turmoil of the French Renaissance. The era was much like today, but without
Francis II (1544-1560), The Brief
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]arried at 14, king at 15 and dead at 16, Francis II did not live long enough to do much
Catherine de Medici (1519-1589), The Conciliator
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]atherine was married to Henry II and had to compete with a mistress, Diane de Poitiers, who ruled her lover.
Henry II (1519-1547), The Quiet Burn
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ullen in his youth he blossomed as king and merrily killed as many Protestants as he did deer. Henry II
Francis I (1494-1547), The Ambitious
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]rancis I was the first true renaissance monarch of France. His reign coincided with the Protestant Reformation. His Catholic paranoia
Louis XII (1462-1515), The Father of the People
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] successful administrator and reformer. Louis XII had three wives but no children. In his gouty old age he died
Anne of Brittany (1477-1514), The Wealthy
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]nne was the richest woman in Europe. She married Charles VIII and Louis XII. She ran the country for them
Charles VIII (1470-1498), The Affable
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne of the most foolish and incompetent monarchs of France. Charles VIII wanted to conquer Italy. He failed miserably and
Louis XI (1423-1483), The Universal Spider
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ecretive, cunning, ruthless and superstitious, Louis XI worked the strings of governments like a harp. He loved plotting conspiracies.
Joan of Arc (1412-1431), the Warrior Saint
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ot a member of the Valois family, but she had a profound influence in their story. She saved the reign
Charles VII (1403-1461), The Victorious
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]est known for being uncrowned and hopeless until his reign and kingdom were saved through the miracle of Joan of
Charles V (1338-1380), The Wise
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ecretive, thin, ill-proportioned, intelligent, taciturn and riddled with gout, Charles V won back much of territorial France. He was the
John II (1319-1364), The Good
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]e was taken captive by the Black Prince and held for ransom in England. He negotiated a return to France.
Philip VI (1293-1350), The Fortunate
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ot so fortunate. The 100 Years War began with Philip VI. The most devastating defeat happened in the Battle of
Eye See You Mirror
[dropcap]E[/dropcap]yes taken from portraits around the world are placed around the central mirror. When you walk past all the eyes
