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Caterina Maria Romola di Lorenzo de Medici was born in Florence on 13 April 1519.
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Catherine's mother died when she was two-weeks-old and her father soon afterwards.
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In 1533, at the age of 14, Catherine's uncle Pope Clement VII arranged her marriage to the duke of Orléans, second son of the king of France
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In 1536, the duke of Orléans became heir to the throne. Eleven years later he was crowned Henry II of France.
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Cathine finally gives a healthy birth to a son. =]
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Henri died in a jousting accident
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Francis (their eldest son) became king.
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Francis died after being king for one year in 1560.
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Charles became king during 1560. Catherine acted as regent for Charles and as a result dominated Charles throughout his reign.
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In 1562 a civil war in France broke out that led to the French Wars of Religion later.
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Arranged a marriage for her daughter Marguerite to the Protestant Henry, King of Navarre.
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During the wedding celebration in Paris, the Huguenot leader, Coligny, was murdered, as were hundreds of other Protestants who had gathered for the wedding. This became known as the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. =/
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Charles IX died in 1574
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Her favorite son Henri III becomes king after CHarles IX's death/
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Catherine died on 5 January 1589 and was buried next to her husband in the church of St Denis in Paris. =/