Alejandría (Dec 2022)
Salvaguardar el poder Real: Catalina de Médicis durante las Guerras de Religión (1559-1589)
Abstract
This work takes a tour of the historiography on the political life of Catherine de Medicis, who was Queen of France as Henry II’ wife and regent as Carlos IX’s mother, as well as a political key during the reigns of her sons Francis II and Henry III. The main objective is to disprove her black legend, which offers us a negative image well established in popular culture and academic circles, although less and less thanks to the review of her figure in recent years. Through the different sections I explain the actions, decisions and methods that Catherine made to defend the royal power of the French Monarchy when it was especially vulnerable, because of the War of Religion and the nobles’ attempts at putting of an end to the growing Absolutism. The tainting of this historical figure was undoubtedly due to the non-resolution of the religious conflicts during the years that he had influence in power, giving rise to dramatics events like the Night of Saint Bartholomew, reinforced by prejudices about his lineage and his sex. However, the judgments towards Catalina are excessive and mostly distorted, based on the propaganda libels of the black legend. That is why this work intends to explore the circumstances and responses that Catherine offered during the Wars of Religion to safeguard the power of the Crown and, in this way, her sons’ governance.
