Marilire

The Summer Queen (re-read)

Artist: Claude-Marie Dubufe

Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca

A Clash of Kings by George R R Martin

King Henri II of Valois with Diane de Poitiers by Azaleas Doll-Divine: http://tffan234.deviantart.com/art/The-Tudors-279366351

Reading A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin.

A Game of Thrones (George R R Martin)

Anne de Rohan, princess of Soubise

The Hesse sisters: Victoria, Elisabeth, Irene and Alix (Alexandra) Daughters of Alice of England and Grand Duke Louis of Hesse

"I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman: but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too." Elizabeth I Tudor with Mary I portrait

Diane de France (1538-1619) was the illegitimate daughter of Henri II of France and his Piedmontese mistress, Filippa Duci. She was born on July 25th 1538 in Paris, France. She was raised by Diane de Poitiers, the royal favorite, who cared for her like a mother. She had a very good education, she spoke many languages and danced very well. In 1547, her father Henri II signed a treaty with the pope in which he betrothed Diane to the prince Orazio Farnese. In 1548, Henri II legitimized Diane and gave her many titles. Diane was probably his favorite child and the one that looked the most like him. In 1553 she married Orazio Farnese but he died five months later. Henri II married her to François of Montmorency in 1557. They had one daughter, Anne, and a son, François, but hey both died in their youth. During Henri IV's reign, she was named main governess of the Dauphin Louis. She was very beloved by Henri IV and his queen Marie de Médicis. Princess Diane died in 1619. She is inhumed in the Minimes cemetery in Paris. 

"Sometimes, even a queen must act against her heart if she is to survive." C. W. Gortner (The Last Queen)

"Thomas More and Erasmus Visit the Children of Henry VII at Greenwich" by Frank Cadogan Cowper.