Diane de France (1538–1619)
Diane de France (1538–1619)
French duchess of Montmorency and Angoulême. Name variations: Madame d'Angoulême; Diana of France or Diane of France. Born in Piedmont, Italy, 1538; died Jan 3, 1619; legitimized dau. of Henry II (1519–1559), king of France (r. 1547–1559), and Filippa Duci; m. Orazio Farnese, duke of Castro (son of the duke of Parma), 1553; m. François de Montmorency (d. 1579), governor of Ile-de-France, May 3, 1559.
Though fathered by Henry II of France out of wedlock, was acknowledged by the king, legitimized (1547), and fully accepted as a daughter of France; was also accepted by half-brothers and half-sisters; a beauty and a fine equestrian, was given the duchy of Chastellerault, until she took over Angoulême; after 1st husband was killed in battle at siege of Hesdin, married François de Montmorency, though he was betrothed to Mademoiselle de Piennes; was close to half-brother Henry III; when he was in danger and in need of financial assistance during his conflict with duke of Guise, brought him 50,000 crowns at great risk; was also politically astute and influential at court of brother-in-law Henry IV, who married her half-sister Margaret of Valois (1553–1615).