Marie de Médicis was a French queen born on April 26, 1573, in Florence, Italy. She was the daughter of Francesco I de' Medici and Joanna of Austria. In 1600, she married King Henry IV of France, becoming the queen consort. After her husband's assassination in 1610, she served as regent for their son, Louis XIII, until he came of age. As regent, Marie de Médicis faced political challenges and conflicts, including struggles with the nobility and the influence of powerful advisors. She was known for her patronage of the arts, commissioning works from artists like Peter Paul Rubens. Marie's reign ended in 1617 when she was removed from power.