Elisabeth of France, or Elisabeth of Valois (; ; 2 April 1546 – 3 October 1568), was Queen of Spain as the third wife of Philip II of Spain.
Early life
Elisabeth was born in the Château de Fontainebleau, the eldest daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. She was raised under the supervision of the governor and governess of the royal children, Jean d'Humières and Françoise d'Humières. During childhood, she was called "Ysabel". Added to this was a multitude of furniture and paintings as well as a retinue of 160 people. At her wedding she met both the painter Sofonisba Anguissola and Ana de Mendoza, who would live with her the rest of her life. Philip II appointed Anguissola to be a lady-in-waiting and court painter for his queen. Under Anguissola's tutelage, Elisabeth improved her amateur painting skills. Anguissola also influenced the artistic works of her children, Isabella Clara Eugenia and Caterina Michaela, during her time at the court.
Elisabeth brought a large entourage with her from France, including two chief ladies-in-waiting (Claude de Vineulx and Jeanne de Chassincourt), eight ladies-in-waiting (among them Louise de Clermont), four chamberwomen, kitchen staff, the surgeon Dunoir, the physician Burgensis and two apothecaries. Later the young queen's household would contain a majority of Spanish nobility ladies-in-waiting and also some Italian ladies. Elisabeth's childhood companions and relatives Anne and Suzanne de Bourbon also accompanied her. (In letters to her mother, she proclaimed herself to be fortunate to have married so charming a prince.) Philip enjoyed hosting chivalric tournaments to entertain his wife. Elisabeth would play liege lady to the three young princes of the Spanish Court: Carlos, Prince of Asturias; John of Austria (illegitimate son of Charles V); and Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma (son of Charles V's illegitimate daughter Margaret). If Philip was pleased with his new wife, Elisabeth's slow adaption of the rigid Spanish court etiquette or what was expected of a Spanish queen consort was noted and her behavior such as her disorganized manner of eating (a reference to a perceived excessive consumption of meat and snacking).
Elisabeth had originally been betrothed to Philip's son, Carlos, Prince of Asturias, but political complications unexpectedly necessitated instead a marriage to Philip. Her relationship with her troubled stepson Carlos was warm and friendly. Despite reports of his progressively bizarre behavior, Carlos was always kind and gentle to Elisabeth. When Philip eventually felt it necessary to lock Carlos away (which shortly led to the Prince's demise), Elisabeth cried for days.
thumb|Elisabeth de Valois with her husband Philip II of Spain, from Catherine de Medici's Book of Hours
Philip was very attached to Elisabeth, staying close by her side even when she was ill with smallpox. Elisabeth's first pregnancy in 1560 resulted in a stillborn son, followed in 1564 with a miscarriage of twin girls. She later gave birth to Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia on 12 August 1566, and then to Isabella's younger sister Catalina Micaela on 10 October 1567. Phillip and Elisabeth were very close to both of their daughters, buying them jams, dolls, toys and more. It is said "both rejoiced at the birth of Isabella as if it had been the birth of a son". Elisabeth ascribed the birth of her first daughter to a miracle attributed to Saint Eugene of Toledo, whose relics she had brought with her as a dowry to Spain.
Elisabeth corresponded with her former sister-in-law, Mary Stuart, who suggested that her infant son James be smuggled out of Scotland and brought to Spain. James would then be raised at the Spanish court and marry one of Elisabeth's daughters. But it was not meant to be: by the time Mary's letter reached Spain, Elisabeth suffered another stillbirth on 3 October 1568 and died the same day at Royal Palace of Aranjuez along with her newborn infant daughter.
After the death of Elisabeth, Catherine de' Medici offered her younger daughter Margaret as a bride for Philip. Philip declined the offer.
In fiction
thumb|150px|Coat of arms of Elisabeth of France, Queen of Spain
alt=sometimes regareced as DianedAndouins|thumb|Portrait of Elisabeth of Valois and Isabella Clara Eugenia
Elisabeth of Valois is a central character in Thomas Otway's play Don Carlos, Prince of Spain; in Schiller's play of the same name; in Verdi's opera adapted from Schiller's play, also titled Don Carlos; and in several other, less well-known operas. Antonio Buzzolla's version of 1850 is actually named "Elisabetta di Valois". All these works imply a tragic romance between Elisabeth and Carlos, suggesting that they were really in love with each other when Elisabeth was forced to break off her engagement to Carlos and marry his father Philip.
In Madame de Lafayette's novella The Princesse de Cleves, Elisabeth of Valois' marriage to Philip II is the occasion for the wedding games at which her father Henri II dies; her role is brief but it substantially affects the novella's narrative arc.
Elisabeth of Valois is portrayed by Caoimhe O'Malley (in the pilot) on the CW show Reign, then later by Anastasia Phillips in the fourth season of the show.
Elisabeth is a character in tv-series "The Serpent Queen" season 2 and is portrayed as an adult by actress Laura Marcus.
Elisabeth appears in the historical novel "The Spanish Bridegroom" by British author Jean Plaidy. In the novel the young Elisabeth is torn between her love and duty to Philip and her strong relationship with her stepson, the mentally unstable Don Carlos. In private, she is appalled by the activities of the Inquisition and other rigid aspects of Spanish life, and secretly conspires with Carlos and her ladies to find ways around the harsher laws and judgements.
Notes
References
Sources
|-