Catherine de’ Medici stands as one of the most famous monarchs in European history. Catherine de’ Medici has played the villain for the most part, and now her history and legacy are dramatized on STARZ’s ‘Serpent Queen’. But where does the line get blurred between fact and fiction?
Catherine de’ Medici is one of the most iconic European nobles, having a massive influence on the political course of France. She was mother to three kings Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. In this quick read, we will explore the history of Catherine de’ Medici and show what’s real and what’s not in the show’s narrative.
The History of the ‘Serpent Queen’
Catherine de’ Medici wasn’t just a regular ol’ queen. Descended from one of the most powerful noble houses in Europe and through history, her family reads like the alum of power. Despite her incredibly high noble background, Catherine’s life wasn’t all glamorous. She went through treachery and betrayal that eventually turned her into the ruthless, ‘serpent queen’.
Let’s go through her history, comparing her portrayal in ‘Serpent Queen’ versus reality. You can also hire an essay writing service to craft a compare-and-contrast essay for you on the same topic.
An Orphan in Florence
The show focuses on Catherine’s ruthlessness and crushing treatment of her enemies, introducing the narrative of an orphaned and ravaged child. Born to Lorenzo de Medici and Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne, both her parents died within a month after she was born. Catherine faced adversity but was in relative comfort until political upheavals began.
While the show depicts Catherine being moved into a physically abusive convent, in reality, she found solace in the quiet of the convents where she was placed. The show further shows her uncle Pope Clement VII (played by the wonderful Charles Dance) as the power behind her kidnapping and bringing her to France.
Love, Politics, and Henry II-
Central to both the series and history was Catherine’s marriage to Henry II, Duke of Orleans, and next in line to the throne of France. After being placed in an arranged marriage by her uncle, Pope Clement VII, she starts her life as a French royal at the age of 14.
Henry is in an affair with an older lover named Diane de Poitiers who wields much influence over him. Catherine is excluded from decision-making and has to go through tumult and humiliation until 1559 when Henry dies. The show offers a dramatic flair to the relationship between Catherine and Diane. However, the historical reality might have been more subtle.
While the show also emphasizes Henry’s devotion to Diane de Poitiers, history suggests a slight contrast. The books suggest that Henry’s affection for Catherine did grow over time and a far more dynamic relationship.
For example, history suggests that Diane never really saw Catherine as a rival seeing as she was 38 years old while Catherine was just 14. She was also not of high nobility and would therefore not need to compete with Catherine. Diane helped Catherine and Henry conceive their first child after 10 years. Later, that dynamic changed as Catherine fell into Diane’s shadow.
Political Ascendance
The show focuses on Catherine’s rise to the top of political power in France. She is shown as an advisor to her sons and her strategic prowess. The show also shows that she rises to the top nearly off her savagery alone. The truth was much more complex.
The French royal house which was Catholic was facing a tumultuous period that saw the Protestant factions or Huguenots, revolt. As Queen Regent, Catherine wanted to keep the peace to avoid the kingdom falling apart. This itself showed empathy on her part.
However, she was able to negotiate a peace pact with the leader of the revolt, Antoine of Navarre whose brother Louis had been imprisoned. This resulted in Catherine being named Governor of France with new sweeping powers outside of the regency.
While the show depicts Catherine as having a mind to totally crush the rebellion, factually, Catherine signed the Edict of Toleration in 1562. She would try to tolerate the rebelling Huguenots for nearly a decade. However, as the kingdom grew weary from the war, Catherine persuaded her son King Charles IX to order the massacre of nearly all the powerful Huguenots. This event later came to be known as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
Catherine’s political ascendancy is a focal point in both the show and history. The series captures the essence of her strategic prowess, depicting her role as an advisor to her sons. However, historical nuances reveal a more layered reality, showcasing Catherine’s resilience amid political turbulence. The legacy she left, marked by controversies and tragedies, serves as a testament to the intricate dance of power within the French court.
Catherine, Patron of the Arts
Catherine de’ Medici was also pivotal in expanding French culture during the Renaissance. She was a major patron of the arts and initiated the building of Tuileries Gardens, and a new wing at the Louvre. Besides the arts, she also commissioned paintings, ballets, several palaces, and great architectural pieces.
Key Contrasts Between the Show and Reality
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The show focuses more on treachery and intrigue in the French court. However, Catherine de’ Medici, though not an astute stateswoman, was quite pragmatic and also cared for her people. She made several attempts at peace, compromising often to find solutions that wouldn’t hurt her people.
History can understand her ruthlessness as being due to the political tensions and the enemies she faced at the time. She walked a fine balance for nearly a decade until the pressure of losing the royal house got to her. This culminated in the bloody St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. Besides these, the pressure of not having any heirs survive to live up to the throne, or worse, dying after some short time might have set her on edge.
The show also depicts Catherine as being set in witchcraft and the occult. Her perfumer is shown to also be her poisoner, developing the wicked concoctions. This might have been true or not. However, her Medici ancestors were known to be great learners and patrons of astronomy and alchemy. This notion might have also been convoluted by the show.
Wrapping Up
Despite the possible misconceptions and some invalidated facts, STARZ’s ‘Serpent Queen’ does a great job at showcasing the person of Catherine de’ Medici. One of the most powerful and enigmatic women in history, Catherine is a figure that still impacts modern history and enshrines the power of a woman.
Catherine de’ Medici’s life was beset by trial and trauma. She ruled at a time of much turbulence for the French royal house. Some of the facts might be lost in history while others might just be overdramatized. Either way, catch every episode of the ‘Serpent Queen’ on STARZ.
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