The children of Henri II and Catherine de Medici

[ilyala]

i sincerely doubt the rumours of incest were true. the valois siblings were close to each other but not that close.

[umigon]

Well, Margot almost confesses it in her memoirs, can't recall the exact words. And Henry did confess it at a party... yes, I would say that incest did occur.

[ilyala]

 
where did you read that?

[Alexios]

Well, I think Henri III was bisexual and perhaps he preferred males. He had many favourites called "mignons" (and, I think, the most important of them "archimignons").

Although the term just meant "favourite" at the time.

Une dernière précision, sur le vocabulaire. Au début du XVIème siècle,le terme de mignon est réservé au fils préféré. La jeunesse et l’indulgence paternelle d’Henri III envers ses fidèles les fit surnommer les "mignons" par sa cour, ce qui ne voulait rien dire d’autre que "les favoris". Ce n’est qu’après l’assassinat du roi par un religieux fanatique que le terme de mignon a été utilisé pour désigner le jeune amant d’un homme.

[Kimberly]

i sincerely doubt the rumours of incest were true. the valois siblings were close to each other but not that close.

I ahve also read this, it is Margot herelf who intimates that there was an "abnormal" relationship going on here. Read it in Leonie Frieda's biography of Catherine de Mdici..... a right riveting read if I may say

[ilyala]

maybe they were just really really close! maybe there was  some fraternal jealousy! does it really have to mean incest?

[umigon]

Yes, it means incest when it was said by the French Court and it was then 'confirmed' by one of the persons which were involved!


About Charles, Alexios, it was Henri who mantained a court of mignons, not Charles!

[Alexios]

Yes, it means incest when it was said by the French Court and it was then 'confirmed' by one of the persons which were involved!


About Charles, Alexios, it was Henri who mantained a court of mignons, not Charles!

Yes, sorry, I've seen the mistake and corrected it.

[umigon]

Ok, we agree then in Henri's homosexuality!

[bell_the_cat]

I've seen it argued that Henri was not homosexual. According to this argument, getting the nobility to dress up in women's clothing was his way of diffusing the political tension caused by the Wars of Religion.

Ingenious!

[umigon]

That would have been ingenious, but I think that statement is more than ingenuous! I mean, Henri kissed them in public (not a polite kiss) and they even touched in parties and similar events... so, I don't think it was JUST a political urgency!

[bell_the_cat]

He was very committed to the peace process!

[umigon]

He was, indeed!  

[Felipe II]

Ok, we agree then in Henri's homosexuality!

Was it well-known in on other European courts like Spain?

[umigon]

Felipe said in a letter that Henri was very peculiar after what he had been told, but I can't remember having read that it was known that he had male "friends". But I imagine it was of common knowledge!