Key People in Renaissance/Reformation France

Birth of Leonardo da Vinci, Florentine

Apr 15, 1452

Globally famous for his paintings, Leonardo was the best expression of the Renaissance man. He was also a sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer, He conceptualised flying machines, a tank, concentrated solar power, an adding machine,and the double hulled ship, a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics. Those were just a few of his brilliant ideas.

Birth of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam

Oct 27, 1466

Catholic priest and theologian, Erasmus was the leading humanist of the Renaissance in the North. He was also a profound advocate of social change and wanted to reform the Church to restore a "religion of the heart".

Birth of Claudin Sermisy, Renaissance composer of French chansons

Aug 13, 1490

One of the great composers of song music during the Renaissance. He is known for the creation, along with his rival Clement Janequin, of the Parisian tradition of song. He wrote music for both secular and sacred songs.

Brith of Marguerite de Navarre, de Angouleme, de Valois

Apr 11, 1492

Elder sister to King Francois I, she was one of the leading Renaissance humanists in France, holding together a brilliant circle of artists and thinkers. She was a patron also of the early Reformation and protected many of the early Hugenots. Although a Valois, she was the ancestor of the royal Bourbon line. Her grandson was King Henri IV, the first Bourbon king of France.

Birth of Anne de Montmorency, Constable of France

Mar 15, 1493

Heir to one of the most decorated and powerful families of France, he was the leading general for 4 French kings.

Birth of Francois Rabelais

Nov 29, 1494

One of the founders of European literature, this ex-monk and medical doctor wrote fantastic stories about giants which entertained all of France. A humanist scholar of impressive knowledge, he wrote to bring change in society, as did Erasmus and Thomas More, but he did it through broad comedy, grotesques and bawdiness.

Birth of Clement Marot

Nov 23, 1496

French poet, attached to the court of Francois I. Served specifically within the literary circle of the King's sister, Margaret de Angouleme. He wrote love poetry addressed to Diane de Poitiers.

Diane de Poitiers born

Sep 3, 1499

Noblewoman of France, who was the mentor of the young prince Henri II in the "courtly graces" starting when he was 10. She became his lover when he turned 16. She was 35. She maintained power of his wife and the court while Henri lived. She was a cousin to Catherine de Medici on her mother's side.

Birth of Jean Calvin

Jul 10, 1509

The great reformer, second only to Luther, used his trained legal mind to develop a structured, clear and well-developed Reform theology and created a "model" Protestant community in Geneva, Switzerland. He had to flee France, but his writings were seminal in the development of the Reformation in France, the Netherlands and Scotland, The Puritans who went to settle North America were Calvinists.

Birth of Bernard Palissy, Ceramicist and Naturalist

Apr 13, 1510

a poor craftsman, Palissy created a whole new form of ceramics based on things he observed in nature. He worked to unite art and natural science. Recognized as a genius by Anne de Montmorency, Palissy went to Paris and developed a completely different style, the mystery of the famously beautiful Saint-Porchaire pottery was solved when the molds were discovered in the recently excavated workshop of Palissy underneath the Louvre. He died for his Huguenot faith and took his secrets with him.

Birth of Jean Goujon

Jul 8, 1510

French sculptor, trained in Italy, became sculptor to King Henri II in 1547 and sculpted this famous statue of Diane d' Poitiers for her Chateau d'Anet.

Birth of Francois Clouet

Dec 20, 1510

French court painter. Known for his exquisite detail and his keen ability to penetrate to and portray the character of those he drew. His portraits of the French court have left a remarkable collection of the time and some of the key people involved in it.

Birth of Philibert de l'Orme, architect

Mar 8, 1514

Architect to the King, Francois I, in 1545 - he designed Fontainebleau, and the Chateau d'Anet for Diane de Poitiers and the Chateau d'Chenonceau, and the magnificent tomb for Francois I in Saint Denis. He also designed the Tuileries for Charles IX,

Francois I becomes King

Jan 1, 1515

He becomes the great introducer of the Renaissance to France. Intrigued by what he sees in Italy during the Italian Wars against the Habsburgs, he brings as much of it home as he can. This includes artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Primitaccio. He led a flamboyant life and sought ever to gain fame and glory.

Charles V becomes King of Spain

Jan 23, 1516

Charles V, who was already the Lord of the Netherlands and Count Palatine of Burgundy, since September of 1506, at age 6. Ten years later he became the King of Spain. Three years later, he became the Holy Roman Emperor, the King of Germany and the King of Italy, June 28, 1519 - at the age of 19.

Ferdinand I, brother to Charles V and acting Archduke of Austria

Jan 12, 1519

At age 15, he becomes the Habsburg ruler of Austria. This wasn't official until 1521. 5 years later, he also becomes King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia. In 1531, he is elected King of the Romans - the official heir to the Empire and Jan. 5, 1558 - he becomes the Holy Roman Emperor.

Birth of Gaspard Coligny

Feb 16, 1519

Once a friend of Henri of Guise, he became the heart of the Reformation and the one who best opposed the growing power of the De Guise. His attempts to do so, led to the wedding of Henri II and the massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day. The act which set off the mass killing was his assassination.

Catherine de Medici born

Apr 13, 1519

Becoming Queen of France in 1547, she became the Queen Mother to three successive Kings of France upon the death of her husband in 1559.

Madeleine des Roches

Feb 4, 1520

A humanist scholar in Poitiers, she taught ancient languages, literature and poetry. A founder of the Poitiers circle of poetry which developed throughout the century.

Birth of Pernette du Guillet, French poet.

Apr 4, 1520

A noblewoman of Lyon, she became the inspiration for lyric poetry when she was 16. She decided to write her own poems, and was part of a vibrant poetic community in Lyon. She left a legacy of exquisitely sensitive poetry which was published after her death, at age 25, by her grieving husband.

Birth of Joachim du Bellay

Feb 4, 1522

French poet, he published the definitive manifesto of the rebellion in letters which created French Renaissance poetry. He met Ronsard by chance in an inn along the road to Poitiers in 1547. Striking up a conversation, they became friends and two years later, du Bellay published the Defense and Illustration of the French Language. The war was on between the defenders of the poetry of Marot and the rebellion led by Ronsard.

Birth of Louise Labe

Apr 25, 1523

Woman poet who became central to the poetic circle in Lyon, after the death of du Guillet. She was an ardent feminist and wrote a long poem on the Folly of Love, drawing on Erasmus for inspiration and revealing a woman's view of the Renaissance male version of love and what she thought Love should be. Highly honored in her lifetime by other poets as a distinctive voice. She was seen as the Sappho of her time.

Birth of Pierre de Ronsard

Sep 11, 1524

The "Prince of Poets". In France, he was an overnight success and became famous with the publication of his book Amours de Cassandre in 1552. This refined, gracious and innovative poetry caught the imagination of the French with its eloquence and vivid imagery. He intoxicated or was hated, depending on your taste.

Battle of Pavia

Feb 24, 1525

Forces of Emperor Charles V defeat Francois I and captures him. He is taken to Madrid and imprisoned.

Franco-Ottoman Alliance

Feb 6, 1526

Imprisoned in Madrid, Francois I sends a secret offer of alliance to the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent who agrees. This sets the stage for the Battle of Mohacs which destroyed the Christian kingdom of Hungary.

Birth of Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

Feb 28, 1533

Born in the Chateau St. Michel de Montaigne, near Burgundy. He was a great influence of the development of the modern mind. His literary achievements include the creation of the "essay" as we use the term today. Profoundly reflective, his Essais still provide an almost inexhaustible source for philosophical and psychological struggles with the human predicament.

Catherine de Medici wedding

Oct 28, 1533

Henri II and Catherine get married in Marseille.

Birth of Catherine des Roches

Dec 4, 1542

the daughter of the brilliant humanist Madeleine des Roches, Catherine was her student and like her mother became a famous poet. The mother and daughter led and inspired generations of poets, they died on the same day of an epidemic in November of 1587.

Birth of Mary Stuart, Queen of France and Queen of the Scots

Dec 7, 1542

Mary Stuart, becomes the Queen of Scotland when she is 6 days old. She is sent to France to become the Queen of France when she is 5. Her marriage to Francois II lasted only six months because he died of complications from an ear infection. Catherine de Medici, her mother-in-law, hated her and sent her back to Scotland. She was 16.

Henri II becomes King of France

Mar 31, 1547

The heir to Francois I, Henri continues with the Italian wars and the attacks on Huguenots in France. He was an avid hunter (note his affair with Diane de Poitiers, the huntress) and a reckless jouster. He is killed in a jousting accident while celebrating a peace treaty and the wedding of his daughter. He had ruled for 12 years and he left only young children to take over the rule of France.

Birth of Charles IX

Jun 27, 1550

One of the 3 sons of Henri II, he became King of France in 1560 at age 10, he was weak and influenced first by Coligny, then by the De Guise. The St. Bartholomew Day massacre occured during his time in power and the shame and guilt led to his worsening health and he died at age 24.

Henri I, Duke De Guise

Dec 31, 1550

Henri, eldest son of the great French warrior Francois de Guise had ambitions to take the throne of France. In 1576, he founded the Catholic League to help him battle against the Protestants in France. He led the attacks during the infamous St. Bartholomew Massacre and was assassinated by the king's bodyguard as a threat to the throne.

Agrippa d'Aubigne - born

Feb 8, 1552

Poet of the Hugenot epic poem Les Tragiques (1616), he was a soldier, chronicler and propagandist. He died in exile in Geneva, after the assassination of Henri IV.

Birth of Margot de Valois, Ist wife of Henri IV

May 14, 1553

Daughter of Henri II and Catherine de Medici, she married the young Henri de Bourbon when she was 19. She protected her husband from the massacre on Saint Bartholomew's Day, six days after their wedding. She was a well-known poet, but was also scandalous for her numerous affairs. She wrote about them too.

Francois II marries Mary, Queen of Scots

Apr 24, 1558

The future King of France is also the future King of Scotland.

Francois II becomes King

Jul 10, 1559

He becomes King of France at age 15. He is unduly influenced by the De Guise faction and ignores the senior members of his own royal family. This leads to the Amboise Conspiracy and to revolts in the countryside. The repressive De Guise government is immensely unpopular. Sudden efforts to win the people over leave the impression of weakness and vacillation. He dies after little more than a year as king.

Amboise Conspiracy

Mar 17, 1560

An attempt to "rescue" Francois II from the power of the uncles of his wife, Mary Stuart. Hugenots felt that the Catholic power of the De Guise faction were shifting the policy of the country against the Hugenots and they wanted to prevent that from happening.

Charles IX becomes King of France

Dec 5, 1560

The 10 year old becomes the King, although not crowned until May 15, 1561. His mother, Catherine de Medici acts as regent.

Birth of Marie de Gournay

Oct 6, 1565

Marie was a self-taught scholar in Latin and Greek, she was an outstanding writer and an ardant feminist. She wrote The Equality of Men and Women in 1622, advocated for education for all girls and wrote many papers on social change. She had many protectors in the royal family because she was attacked so often in print and threatened. Montaigne named her as his heir and she edited, translated and published his work The Essays.

Saint Bartholomew Day Massacre in Paris

Aug 24, 1572

The planned slaughter of wedding guests in Paris attending the wedding of Henri of Navarre and Marguerite de Valois. About 2,000 victims in Paris, but related massacres around the country killed somewhere between 8,000 to 30,000. This was a devastating blow to the Huguenots in France and may ultimately have led to the failure of the Reformation in France and the final expulsion of the Huguenots from France many years later.

Henri III becomes KIng

May 30, 1574

Having become King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in May of 1573. He is recalled when his brother dies suddenly and becomes King of France at age 22. He was a politique and believed that the King should be tolerant of the Huguenots. This led him into intense conflict with the de Guise and the Catholic League. He was assassinated by a Catholic monk after 16 years on the throne, the last of the Valois dynasty.

Birth of Nicolas Vallet

Feb 4, 1583

French Hugenot lutenist, fled to Amsterdam just after King Henri IV was assassinated, May 14 1610. He was in his late 20's. He founded a dance school, teaching the latest French dances and composed mostly dance music. His 2 books Les Secrets de Muse also contain "in some detail, important elements of performance practice - fingering, tone production and use of ornamentation." In 1526, he entered into partnership with a group of English musicians in Amsterdam. He also composed religious music

Henri IV, the 1st Bourbon King of France

Aug 2, 1589

"Paris, is worth a Mass." The young Huguenot Prince of the Blood became the focus of intense conflict, as it became clear that the Valois line was dying out and he was the only legitimate heir to the throne of France. He converted to Catholicism in order to stop the Religious Wars. He was in many ways a great king and was known as "the good King Henry". Assassinated by a religious fanatic after 21 years of restoring France after the horrors of the Religious Wars.