Henri II at Saint-Germain-en-Laye - A Royal Court during the Renaissance - Exhibition catalogue

French language

Henri II, son of Francis I and Queen Claudius, reigned over France from 1547 to 1559. If his union with Catherine de Medici, his love for Diane de Poitiers and his tragic end made him a recurring figure in historical literature, this sovereign seems today unfairly overshadowed by the fame of his father and the personality of his wife.

On the occasion of the national commemoration of the five hundredth anniversary of his birth, the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale is honouring Henri II by organising an exhibition dedicated to the presence of this sovereign in the royal domain at the château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the place of his birth in 1519, but also the residence where he lived most often during his reign.

Abundantly illustrated, the catalogue gives a complete panorama of the presence of Henri II in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, from the historical context to daily life.
In three sections, it retraces the multiple facets of Henri II's reign: the first section highlights the sovereign and his entourage - the court, the favourites, the royal couple and his descendants; the second section reveals his obvious taste for the castle, the forest and the places of entertainment in Saint-Germain-en-Laye; the last section shows that this royal residence is inseparable from the preparation of the various military campaigns led by the sovereign, but also constitutes the regular framework of daily life.
Exhibition at the National Archaeology Museum - Saint-Germain-en-Laye, from 30 March to 14 July 2019