Mariede Medici

Marie de' Medici, second wife of Henri IV, and daughter of Francis I. of Tuscany, was born in 1573 and married in 1600. Next year she gave birth to a dauphin, afterwards Louis XIII, but not long after separated from her husband. From 1610 to 1617 she was regent for her son, but in the latter year was deposed, the influence of Concini, Marquis d'Ancre, with her having excited universal displeasure. After an absence of two years she reappeared at Court, and soon began to intrigue against Richelieu, but her devices having been discovered, she was imprisoned at Compiegne. She escaped to Brussels in 1631, and died at Cologne in 1642. The Luxemburg Palace was built by her.