Catherine de’ Medici and Marie de’ Medici were both members of the powerful Medici family, although they were not direct relatives. Catherine was born in 1519 as the daughter of Lorenzo II de’ Medici, and she became the queen consort of France by marrying King Henry II. Marie, on the other hand, was born in 1575 and was the daughter of Francesco I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. She married King Henry IV of France and later became the queen consort.
The connection between them stems from their shared Medici heritage. Catherine was born into the Medici dynasty, which was influential in Florence and later across Europe. Marie was also a Medici, as the Medici family produced multiple branches that played significant roles in European politics. Thus, while Catherine and Marie were not directly related, they were both part of the same illustrious Medici family tree, highlighting the prominence of the Medicis in European history.