Henry III King France 1551-1589

Paternal Family Tree: Capet

Maternal Family Tree: Isabelle Beauvau Countess Vendôme 1436-1475

On 28th October 1533 [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 14] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 14] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. He the son of [his grandfather] King Francis I of France [aged 39] and [his grandmother] Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France. They were sixth cousins.

On 19th September 1551 Henry III King France was born to King Henry II of France [aged 32] and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 32].

Wriothesley's Chronicle [1508-1562]. Before 25th December 1551. This year before Christmas, the Lord Clinton [aged 39], Lord High Admirall of England, went into Fraunce to be the Kinges Maiesties deputye to christen the [his father] French Kinges [aged 32] sonne, which bare the Kinges name [Note. The French king's], where he was highly received and feasted of the French Kinge, and had great gyftes giuen him, and was proclaymed by the French harrouldes after the christninge, Edwardus Alexander Dux Anguilonia.[Note. Angoulême]

On 24th April 1558 [his brother] Dauphin of France [aged 14] and [his sister-in-law] Mary Queen of Scots [aged 15] were married at Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral [Map]. He by marriage King Consort Scotland. She the daughter of King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise Queen Consort Scotland [aged 42]. He the son of [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 39] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 39]. They were third cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

In 1559 [his brother-in-law] Charles "The Great" Lorraine III Duke Lorraine [aged 15] and [his sister] Claude Valois Duchess Lorraine [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Duchess Lorraine. She the daughter of [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 39] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 39]. He the son of Francis Lorraine I Duke Lorraine and Christina Oldenburg Duchess Lorraine [aged 37]. They were fourth cousins.

On 10th July 1559 [his father] King Henry II of France [aged 40] was killed whilst jousting in celebration of his [his sister] daughter's [aged 14] marriage to [his future brother-in-law] Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain [aged 32]. His son Francis [aged 15] succeeded II King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. Mary Queen of Scots [aged 16] by marriage Queen Consort France. They would reign for eighteen months only with Francis dying in Dec 1560. Francis and Mary would have no issue.

On 20th July 1559 [his brother-in-law] Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain [aged 32] and [his sister] Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain [aged 14] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Spain. She the daughter of [his father] King Henry II of France [deceased] and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 40]. He the son of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and Isabel Aviz Queen Consort Spain. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

On 5th December 1560 Francis II King France King Consort Scotland [aged 16] died, possibly from an ear abscess, in the Hotel Groslot, Orléans. On 23rd December 1560 he was buried at the Basilica of St Denis [Map]. His brother Charles [aged 10] succeeded IX King France: Capet Valois Angoulême; his mother Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 41] acted as Regent. His wife Mary Queen of Scots [aged 17] returned to Scotland arriving at Leith 19th August 1561 after having been in France for thirteen years.

On 3rd October 1568 [his sister] Elizabeth Valois Queen Consort Spain [aged 23] died.

On 26th November 1570 [his brother] Charles IX King France [aged 20] and [his sister-in-law] Elisabeth of Austria Queen Consort France [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of Maximilian Habsburg Spain II Holy Roman Emperor [aged 43] and Maria of Spain Holy Roman Empress [aged 42]. He the son of [his father] King Henry II of France and [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 51]. They were fourth cousins.

On 30th May 1574 Charles IX King France [aged 23] died. His brother Henry [aged 22] succeeded III King France: Capet Valois Angoulême.

In 1575 Henry III King France [aged 23] was appointed 361st Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 41].

On 13th February 1575 Henry III King France [aged 23] was crowned III King France: Capet Valois Angoulême at Reims Cathedral.

Memoires of Jacques du Clercq

This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.

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On 14th February 1575 Henry III King France [aged 23] and Louise Lorraine Queen Consort France [aged 21] were married at Reims Cathedral; the day after his coronation. She by marriage Queen Consort France. He the son of King Henry II of France and Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 55]. They were fourth cousins.

On 12th May 1575 Henry III King France [aged 23] Abdicated King France: Capet Valois Angoulême. His second cousin Henry [aged 21] succeeded IV King France: Capet Valois Bourbon.

In 1576 [his brother] Francis Valois Duke Anjou [aged 20] was appointed Duke Anjou.

On 10th June 1584 [his brother] Francis Valois Duke Anjou [aged 29] died of malaria unmarried.

On 7th February 1587 Mary Queen of Scots [aged 44] was informed she was to be executed the following day. During the course of the night she wrote to her former brother-in-law Henry III King France [aged 35], signing the letter 'Wednesday [8th] at two in the morning'; she was executed around eight hours later.

To the most Christian king, my brother and old ally,

Royal brother, having by God's will, for my sins I think, thrown myself into the power of the Queen my cousin, at whose hands I have suffered much for almost twenty years, I have finally been condemned to death by her and her Estates. I have asked for my papers, which they have taken away, in order that I might make my will, but I have been unable to recover anything of use to me, or even get leave either to make my will freely or to have my body conveyed after my death, as I would wish, to your kingdom where I had the honor to be queen, your sister and old ally.

Tonight, after dinner, I have been advised of my sentence: I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning. I have not had time to give you a full account of everything that has happened, but if you will listen to my doctor and my other unfortunate servants, you will learn the truth, and how, thanks be to God, I scorn death and vow that I meet it innocent of any crime, even if I were their subject. The Catholic faith and the assertion of my God-given right to the English crown are the two issues on which I am condemned, and yet I am not allowed to say that it is for the Catholic religion that I die, but for fear of interference with theirs. The proof of this is that they have taken away my chaplain, and although he is in the building, I have not been able to get permission for him to come and hear my confession and give me the Last Sacrament, while they have been most insistent that I receive the consolation and instruction of their minister, brought here for that purpose. The bearer of this letter and his companions, most of them your subjects, will testify to my conduct at my last hour. It remains for me to beg Your Most Christian Majesty, my brother-in-law and old ally, who have always protested your love for me, to give proof now of your goodness on all these points: firstly by charity, in paying my unfortunate servants the wages due them - this is a burden on my conscience that only you can relieve: further, by having prayers offered to God for a queen who has borne the title Most Christian, and who dies a Catholic, stripped of all her possessions. As for my son, I commend him to you in so far as he deserves, for I cannot answer for him. I have taken the liberty of sending you two precious stones, talismans against illness, trusting that you will enjoy good health and a long and happy life. Accept them from your loving sister-in-law, who, as she dies, bears witness of her warm feeling for you. Again I commend my servants to you. Give instructions, if it please you, that for my soul's sake part of what you owe me should be paid, and that for the sake of Jesus Christ, to whom I shall pray for you tomorrow as I die, I be left enough to found a memorial mass and give the customary alms.

Wednesday, at two in the morning.

Your most loving and most true sister.

Mary R.

On 23rd December 1588 Henry 1st Duke Guise [aged 37], leader of the Catholic League, was assassinated at the Château de Blois by the King's bodyguard whilst Henry III King France [aged 37] looked on.

On 5th January 1589 [his mother] Catherine Medici Queen Consort France [aged 69] died.

On 2nd August 1589 Henry III King France [aged 37] was assassinated.

On 29th January 1601 [his former wife] Louise Lorraine Queen Consort France [aged 47] died at the Château de Moulins.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th December 1643. I went with some company to see some remarkable places without the city: as the Isle, and how it is encompassed by the Rivers Seine and the Ouse. The city is divided into three parts, whereof the town is greatest. The city lies between it and the University in form of an island. Over the Seine is a stately bridge called Pont Neuf, begun by Henry III in 1578, finished by Henry IV his successor. It is all of hewn freestone found under the streets, but more plentifully at Montmartre, and consists of twelve arches, in the midst of which ends the point of an island, on which are built handsome artificers' houses. There is one large passage for coaches, and two for foot passengers three or four feet higher, and of convenient breadth for eight or ten to go abreast. On the middle of this stately bridge, on one side, stands the famous statue of Henry the Great on horseback, exceeding the natural proportion by much; and, on the four faces of a stately pedestal (which is composed of various sorts of polished marbles and rich moldings), inscriptions of his victories and most signal actions are engraven in brass. The statue and horse are of copper, the work of the great John di Bologna, and sent from Florence by Ferdinand the First, and Cosmo the Second, uncle and cousin to Mary de Medicis, the wife of King Henry, whose statue it represents. The place where it is erected is inclosed with a strong and beautiful grate of iron, about which there are always mountebanks showing their feats to the idle passengers. From hence is a rare prospect toward the Louvre and suburbs of St. Germains, the Isle du Palais, and Nôtre Dame. At the foot of this bridge is a water-house, on the front whereof, at a great height, is the story of Our Savior and the woman of Samaria pouring water out of a bucket. Above, is a very rare dial of several motions, with a chime, etc. The water is conveyed by huge wheels, pumps, and other engines, from the river beneath. The confluence of the people and multitude of coaches passing every moment over the bridge, to a new spectator is an agreeable diversion. Other bridges there are, as that of Nôtre Dame and the Pont-au-Change, etc., fairly built, with houses of stone, which are laid over this river; only the Pont St. Anne, landing the suburbs of St. Germains at the Tuileries, is built of wood, having likewise a water house in the midst of it, and a statue of Neptune casting water out of a whale's mouth, of lead, but much inferior to the Samaritan.

Royal Ancestors of Henry III King France 1551-1589

Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Godwinson: Great x 14 Grand Son of King Harold II of England

Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Henry III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Malcolm III of Scotland

Kings France: Son of King Henry II of France

Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 19 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine

Kings Spain: Great x 4 Grand Son of John II King Aragon

Ancestors of Henry III King France 1551-1589

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles V of France son of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans son of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of King Philip III of France

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Valois Orléans Grandson of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan 17 x Great Grandson of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Great x 3 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois daughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Valois Orléans Count Angoulême Great Grandson of King Charles V of France

Great x 2 Grandmother: Marguerite Rohan

Grandfather: King Francis I of France 2 x Great Grandson of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Amadeus Savoy VIII Count Savoy Great Grandson of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Savoy I Count Savoy Great Grandson of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Mary Valois Countess Savoy Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip "Landless" Savoy II Duke Savoy 2 x Great Grandson of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Janus of Cyprus

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Cyprus Countess Savoy

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anglesia Visconti

Great x 1 Grandmother: Louise of Savoy Countess Angoulême 3 x Great Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Bourbon I Duke Bourbon 2 x Great Grandson of King Philip III of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles Bourbon I Duke Bourbon Great Grandson of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Bourbon 2 x Great Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy Grandson of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnes Valois Duchess Bourbon Great Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 3 x Great Granddaughter of King Philip III of France

father: King Henry II of France son of King Francis I of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles V of France son of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans son of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna Bourbon Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of King Philip III of France

Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois Duke Orléans Grandson of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Gian Galeazzo Visconti 1st Duke Milan 17 x Great Grandson of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor

Great x 3 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Valois daughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis XII King France Great Grandson of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Adolph de la Marck 6 x Great Grandson of King Stephen I England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Adolph de la Marck I Duke Cleves 7 x Great Grandson of King Stephen I England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Jülich Countess Cleves and Mark 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Stephen I England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary de la Marck Duchess Orléans 2 x Great Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy Grandson of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Valois Duchess Cleves Great Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 3 x Great Granddaughter of King Philip III of France

Grandmother: Claude Valois Orléans Queen Consort France daughter of Louis XII King France

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Montfort V Duke Brittany 2 x Great Grandson of King Henry III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Montfort Great Grandson of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Joanna of Navarre Queen Consort England Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 2 Grandfather: Francis Montfort II Duke Brittany Great Grandson of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Louis Valois I Duke Orléans son of King Charles V of France

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Valois Granddaughter of King Charles V of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Valentina Visconti Duchess of Orleans Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne of Brittany Queen Consort France Great Granddaughter of John II King Aragon

Great x 4 Grandfather: John I Count Foix

Great x 3 Grandfather: Gaston IV Count Foix

Great x 4 Grandmother: Jeanne Albret Countess Foix

Great x 2 Grandmother: Marguerite Foix Duchess Brittany Granddaughter of John II King Aragon

Great x 4 Grandfather: John II King Aragon -2 x Great Grandson of John II King Aragon

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Trastámara Queen Consort Navarre daughter of John II King Aragon

Great x 4 Grandmother: Blanche Évreux Queen Consort Aragon Great Granddaughter of King John "The Good" II of France

Henry III King France son of King Henry II of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Cosimo de Medici "The Elder"

Great x 3 Grandfather: Piero di Cosimo de Medici

Great x 2 Grandfather: Lorenzo de Medici

Great x 4 Grandfather: Francesco di Simone Tornabuoni

Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucrezia Tornabuoni

Great x 1 Grandfather: Piero "The Unfortunate" de Medici

Great x 4 Grandfather: Orso Orsini

Great x 3 Grandfather: Giacomo Orsini

Great x 2 Grandmother: Clarice Orsini

Grandfather: Lorenzo de Medici Duke of Urbino

mother: Catherine Medici Queen Consort France 7 x Great Granddaughter of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Bertrand IV Count Auvergne

Great x 3 Grandfather: Bertrand Auvergne V Count Auvergne 13 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie I Countess Auvergne 12 x Great Granddaughter of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 2 Grandfather: Bertrand Auvergne VI Count Auvergne 14 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 1 Grandfather: Jean IV Count Auvergne 15 x Great Grandson of Hugh I King of the Franks

Great x 3 Grandfather: Georges de La Trémoille

Great x 2 Grandmother: Louise de La Trémoïlle

Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine de L'Isle-Bouchard

Grandmother: Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne 6 x Great Granddaughter of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Jean Bourbon I Count La Marche 2 x Great Grandson of King Louis IX of France

Great x 3 Grandfather: Louis Bourbon 1st Count Vendôme 1st Count Castres 3 x Great Grandson of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandmother: Catherine Vendome

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Bourbon VIII Count Vendôme 4 x Great Grandson of King Louis IX of France

Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Montfort Baron Laval

Great x 3 Grandmother: Jeanne Laval Countess Vendôme and Castres 4 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne 13th de Laval Baroness Laval 3 x Great Granddaughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandmother: Jeanne Bourbon Duchess Bourbon 5 x Great Granddaughter of King Louis IX of France

Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabelle Beauvau Countess Vendôme