of Lorraine in 1589. The couple had a large reception at the Medici Villa in Poggio a Caiano. Christina's dowry was considerably large; it included 600,000 crowns in cash as well as jewellery with a value of 50,000 crowns. Also, the rights of the Duchy of Urbino were transferred to Christina after the death of Queen Catherine de' Medici of France and thus assumed by future Medici rulers. Foreign policy Ferdinando's foreign policy attempted to free Tuscany from Spanish domination. After the assassination of Henry III of France in 1589, he supported Henry IV of France in his struggles against the Catholic League. Ferdinando lent Henry money and encouraged him to convert to Catholicism, which he eventually did. Ferdinando also used his influence with Pope Clement VIII to get him to accept Henry's conversion. Henry showed no appreciation for these favours, and Ferdinando let the relationship cool, maintaining his cherished independence. He supported Philip III of Spain in his campaign in Algeria and Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II in his against the Turks. For these undertakings, he found it necessary to raise taxes on his subjects. He finally obtained the formal investiture of Siena, which his father had conquered. Ferdinando strengthened the Tuscan fleet, and it saw victories against pirates on the Barbary coast in 1607 and against a superior Turkish fleet the following year. He also dreamed of a small African empire, and then considered the possibility of a colony in Brazil. A few months before his death, Ferdinando organised an expedition in 1608 under the command of Captain Robert Thornton to northern Brazil and the Amazon river in order to create a colony. Issue Cosimo II (1590–1621), who succeeded as Grand Duke of Tuscany; he married Maria Maddalena of Austria and had issue Eleonora (1591–1617), died unmarried Catherine (1593–1629), married Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, later Governor of Siena Francesco (1594–1614), died unmarried Carlo (1595–1666), died unmarried Filippino (1598–1602), died unmarried Lorenzo (1599–1648), died unmarried Maria Maddalena (1600–1633), died unmarried Claudia (1604–1648), married first to Federico della Rovere and had issue, then to Leopold V, Archduke of Austria, and had issue. Ancestors References External links 1549 births 1609 deaths Ferdinando 1 Ferdinando 1 Burials at San Lorenzo, Florence 16th-century Italian cardinals 16th-century Italian nobility 17th-century Italian nobility