catherine de’ medici

noun

1. Caterina de’ Medici, 1518–89, queen of Henry II of France (mother of Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III).

noun

1. 1519–89, queen of Henry II of France; mother of Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III of France; regent of France (1560–74). She was largely responsible for the massacre of Protestants on Saint Bartholomew’s Day (1572)