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Catherine de Médici, Count Montecuccoli, Dauphin of France, Duke Francis III of Brittany, King Francis I of France, King Henry II of France
Duchy of Brittany
In 1524, the Dauphin inherited the Duchy of Brittany on his mother’s death, becoming Duke François III, although the Duchy was actually ruled by officials of the French crown. In 1532, after much discourse with the Breton deputies, demands were laid before the French crown.
The Dauphin was to arrive at Rennes as Duke François III and owner of the duchy, King François I would be granted usufruct and management of it and, after the union with France, the Dauphin would sign an oath that respects the duchy’s rights and privileges.
Duke François III agreed to these demand and passed an edict annexing the duchy of Brittany to France. On August 1532, 14, the Dauphin was crowned Duke François III in Rennes Cathedral.
Upon King Henri II of France’s succession to the French throne in 1547, the Duchy and the crown were effectively merged, the Breton estates having already tied the succession of the Duchy to the French crown.
The Dauphin François died at the Château de Tournon on August 10, 1536, at the age of eighteen. The circumstances of his death seemed suspicious, and it is believed by many that he was poisoned. However, there is ample evidence that he died of natural causes, possibly tuberculosis.
After playing a round of tennis at a jeu de paume court “pré[s] d’Ainay”, the Dauphin asked for a cup of water, which was brought to him by his secretary, Count Montecuccoli. After drinking it, François collapsed and died several days later.
Montecuccoli, who was brought to the court by Catherine de’ Medici, was accused of being in the pay of Emperor Charles V, and when his quarters were searched a book on different types of poison was found. Catherine de’ Medici was well known to have an interest in poisons and the occult. Under torture, Montecuccoli confessed to poisoning the Dauphin and was executed.
In an age before forensic science, poison was usually suspected whenever a young healthy person died shortly after eating or drinking. There was no way to pinpoint and trace the substance after death; therefore, it was considered a quick, easy and untraceable form of homicide. There have been several other suspected cases of political murder by poison in the French royal family throughout the ages.