^Lot 258 Catherine de Medici

Queen Consort of France (born Florence, 1519) from 1547 to 1559 and mother of three French kings: Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. Manuscript DS, in Old French, signed “Catherine,” one page, 10 x 14, 1588. Lengthy and boldly penned document mentioning the notorious “Duc de Guise.” Framed to an overall size of 16 x 20.25. In very good condition, with intersecting folds, a few small areas of paper loss along folds, scattered light toning and soiling, and a pencil notation along bottom edge.

Henry I, Duke of Guise, was known as ‘Le Balafré’ (Scarface) for his wounds suffered at the Battle of Dormans. A prominent Catholic, he formed the Catholic League to keep the Protestant heir off the French throne, leading to the War of the Three Henrys. In May 1588, the Duke led an uprising in Paris, the Day of the Barricades. King Henry III fled the city and Parisians set up barricades in the streets, refusing to take orders from anyone besides the Duke. When Catherine attempted to go to mass, she found her way blocked. “Never have I seen myself in such trouble or with so little light by which to escape,” she wrote. Following Catherine’s advice, Henry III gave into the Catholic League’s demands, signing the Act of Union in June. Four months later, Henry III effectively removed Catherine from power, and in December, the Duke of Guise was assassinated by the king’s bodyguards in the royal chamber.