Anna de' Medici (31 December 1569 – 19 February 1584) was the third child of

Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany Francesco I (25 March 1541 – 19 October 1587) was the second Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1574 until his death in 1587. He was a member of the House of Medici. Biography Born in Florence, Francesco was the son of Cosimo I de' Medic ...

, and Joanna of Austria. She was a member of the famous

House of Medici The House of Medici ( , ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici, in the Republic of Florence during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Mug ...

Life

Anna was the third child of Grand Duke Francesco and Archduchess Joanna. She had two surviving sisters, Eleanor, Duchess of Mantua, and Marie, Queen of France. Francesco betrothed Anna in 1578 to

Charles, Margrave of Burgau Charles, Margrave of Burgau, also known as ''Charles of Austria'', (22 November 1560 at Křivoklát Castle in Bohemia – 30 October 1618 in Überlingen), was the son of Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria and his first morganatic marriage to ...

, son of

Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria Ferdinand II, Archduke of Further Austria (Linz, 14 June 1529 – 24 January 1595, Innsbruck) was ruler of Further Austria and since 1564 Imperial count of Tirol. The son of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, he was married to Philippine Welser ...

(a brother of her mother). A portrait of Anna was sent to the Archduke. Anna's father even asked permission in 1579 for the marriage from

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...

, who was one of the most powerful rulers of the time. But the negotiations were called off and the marriage did not go ahead. It is possible that after the failed negotiations, Francesco set up further ones for a marriage for Anna to

Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy Charles Emmanuel I ( it, Carlo Emanuele di Savoia; 12 January 1562 – 26 July 1630), known as the Great, was the Duke of Savoy from 1580 to 1630. He was nicknamed (, in context "the Hot-Headed") for his rashness and military aggression. Being ...

. But these negotiations were also called off and Charles Emmanuel was soon married to

Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain Catherine Michaela of Spain (; 10 October 1567 – 6 November 1597) was Duchess of Savoy by marriage to Duke Charles Emmanuel I. She ruled the Duchy several times as regent in Charles Emmanuel's absence, notably during his campaign in 1594.Dizio ...

, daughter of King Philip. Anna soon became sickly and was dying. On 19 February 1584, her sister Eleanor sent a letter to their father on Anna's behalf requesting him to come and visit her before she died, Anna died that same day aged only fourteen.

Ancestry

References

1569 births 1584 deaths

Anna de' Medici Anna de' Medici (31 December 1569 – 19 February 1584) was the third child of Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Joanna of Austria. She was a member of the famous House of Medici. Life Anna was the third child of Grand Duke Fra ...

16th-century Italian nobility

Daughters of monarchs Royalty and nobility who died as children {{Europe-royal-stub