Catherine de Medici as Queen Consort
Catherine de Medici, the 16th century Queen consort, and later Queen mother of France had a great deal of influence in politics. In many respects the historical impact and the influence of Catherine de Medici was directly related to the political, religious, as well as the social instability experienced in France from the 1560s.
Catherine de Medici had been the queen consort of Henri II of France, and had seemed to be politically insignificant whilst her husband was still alive. Perhaps Henri II's most important action as king had been to end the wars against the Habsburgs, and finally regain Calais from the English. Henri II was in good health and had four sons with Catherine de Medici so that the future of France and its monarchy should have been secure.
Catherine de Medici, and the Instability of France After the Death of Henri II
It was highly ironic that Henri II was killed in a freak jousting accident in a tournament that was celebrating the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis. Henri II left behind a country that was increasingly divided by religious divisions as the spread of Protestantism alarmed the Roman Catholic majority. Given the youth of the new king Francis II Catholic and Protestant factions attempted to gain and control the government. Catherine de Medici took an increasingly large part in the running of the country, and attempting to protect the positions of her sons through her influence.
The Role of Catherine de Medici in The French Wars of Religion
The early death of Francis II and the inability of his brother Charles IX to run France effectively meant that Catherine de Medici was left in vain to stop the outbreak of the War of Religion. The bitter Wars of Religion were one of the bloodiest episodes in the history of France, and Catherine de Medici proved incapable of permanently restoring peace and stability to the country. Charles IX lacked authority and power, which meant that Catherine de Medici as the queen mother believed she had the responsibility of regaining royal authority and national stability as well.
Catherine de Medici had originally tried to remain neutral in the civil wars between the Catholic League and the Huguenots, the French Protestants. Catherine de Medici’s attempts at mediation generally failed as the Roman Catholics and the Protestants were unwilling to compromise.
Catherine de Medici had an important in relation to the St Bartholomew Day Massacre in 1572 when the Catholic League murdered several thousand Protestants across the country. She was able to ensure that her third son Henri III came to the throne.
However the French Wars of Religion continued with the Catholic League having the support of Spain, and the Protestants were backed less effectively by England.
The influence of Catherine de Medici declined after Henri III was assassinated, and her son-in-law Henri IV secured the throne of France and divorced her daughter. Henri IV converted to Catholicism to secure the French throne yet granted the Protestants freedom of religion.
Bibliography
Crystal D (1998) Chambers’ Biographical Encyclopedia, 2nd edition, Edinburgh
Holmes R, (2007) Battlefield, Oxford University Press, Oxford
Lenman B, (2004) Chambers Dictionary of World History, Edinburgh
