The Valois Dynasty
My work is informed by my fascination with history, mostly European. I am struck by how history repeats itself. […]
The Valois Dynasty
The French renaissance was a lot like today, but without the comforts. It was a time of extreme violence, economic disparity, bigotry, religious wars, pandemics, fanaticism and, surprisingly, a flowering in the arts. The parallels to the world today are dismaying and surprising.
The Valois family dynasty ruled France during this turmoil. Ambitious, greedy, ruthless, sensuous, sickly and arrogant, the Valois personified their times. Their dynasty weakened over time with each successive generation, becoming more and more divisive, decadent and distant from their subjects. The last Valois, Henry III, was a cross dressing( to me a plus!), murderous fanatic who was stabbed to death by a mad monk.
Marguerite de Valois (1553-1615), The Glutton
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]wo times a queen. Known through history as the notorious La Reine Margot. Not a bigot, she saved many Protestants
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