Louise of Lorraine

Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont, 1580

Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont (April 30, 1553 - January 29, 1601) was a member of the House of Lorraine who became Queen consort of France from 1575 until 1589.

Born in Nomeny in the Lorraine region of France, she was the daughter of Nicholas, Duke of Mercoeur.

On February 13, 1575, she was married at the Cathedral of Reims to Henri III, King of France. Although she loved her husband a great deal, their 14-year marriage was not a happy one and the couple were childless.

In 1589 Queen Louise inherited Château de Chenonceau and was staying there at the time her husband was assassinated on August 2nd. She fell into a state of depression and spent the remainder of her days wandering aimlessly along the château's vast corridors dressed in mourning clothes amidst somber black tapestries stitched with skull and crossbones.

Queen Louise died in Moulins, Allier in 1601 and was buried at the Convent of the Capuchins. In 1817 her remains were reinterred next to her husband in the Saint Denis Basilica.