Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (25 March 1541 – 19 October 1587) was the second Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1574 until his death in 1587, a member of the House of Medici. He married twice, his second and last wife being his mistress Bianca Cappello. He was also the maternal grandfather of King Louis XIII of France.

Marriage
Grand Duke Francesco I of Tuscany married Joanna of Austria 18 December 1565 in Florence. Joanna wis a daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor an niece of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. They had seven children in total. In April 1578, Joanna – heavily pregnant with her eighth child – fell from the stairs in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Some hours later, she prematurely gave birth to a son, who died immediately. She died the next day on 11 April. Grand Duke Francesco subsequently married his mistress, Bianca Cappello, making her grand duchess.

Children

 * 1) Eleonora de' Medici (28 February 1567 – 9 September 1611), who married Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke o Mantua and had children.
 * 2) Romola de' Medici (20 November 1568 – 2 December 1568) died young.
 * 3) Anna de' Medici (31 December 1569 – 19 February 1584) died young.
 * 4) Isabella de' Medici (30 September 1571 – 8 August 1572) died young.
 * 5) Lucrezia de' Medici (7 November 1572 – 14 August 1574) died young.
 * 6) Maria de' Medici (26 April 1575 – 3 July 1642) married King Henri IV of France and had children.
 * 7) Filippo de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany (20 May 1577 – 29 March 1582) died young.

Titles and styles

 * 25 March 1541 – 21 April 1574 His Highness The Grand Prince of Tuscany.
 * 21 April 1574 – 17 October 1587 His Highness The Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Honours

 * Grand Master of the Order of Saint Stephen Pope and Martyr (Tuscany)