Born: 13 April 1519 · Died: 5 January 1589 · Age at death: 69
How old was Catherine de' Medici when she died?
Catherine de' Medici died aged 69. She was born on 13 April 1519 and died on 5 January 1589.
Influential 16th-century Queen of France and mother of three kings
Did you know?She is credited with introducing the side-saddle to the French court, which allowed women to ride horses while maintaining their modesty.
Quick facts
Date of birth13 April 1519
Date of death5 January 1589
Age at death69
Cause of deathPneumonia
NationalityItalian-French
BirthplaceFlorence, Italy
Occupationregent
Editor's Take:
Catherine de' Medici spent years in the shadow of her husband's mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Widowhood transformed her into the most powerful figure in France. She guided three sons through the throne during the French Wars of Religion. She often sought compromise between Catholics and Protestants, yet her name is tied to the massacre of Huguenots in 1572. Historians still debate how much she was to blame. She was also a builder and patron, starting work on the Tuileries Palace in Paris.
Key Milestones
1533: Marries the future Henry II of France
1560: Becomes regent for her son Charles IX
1572: The St Bartholomew's Day massacre takes place in Paris
Catherine de' Medici (13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to King Henry II. She was the mother of French kings Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III, and a cousin to Pope Clement VII.
Catherine de' Medici's birthday is April 13. She was born on April 13, 1519 in Florence, Italy.
How old was Catherine de' Medici when she died?
Catherine de' Medici died on January 5, 1589, aged 69.
Who shares a birthday with Catherine de' Medici?
Famous people who share Catherine de' Medici's April 13 birthday include Samuel Beckett, Garry Kasparov, Seamus Heaney, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio and Julius Nyerere.
