Queen's

I got a book called” Young Queens” for my birthday which includes articles about Renaissance women and the price of power. I am reading this book because I want to learn about the women that got power in history and the sacrifices/price they paid for that power. Also, I want to know if they got their power and used it! The book is called Young Queen’s- Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power by Leah Redmond Chang.

In the Young Queen’s book- it cover’s three women- Catherine, Mary and Elizabeth. They were the leaders of France, Scotland and Spain. Catherine De Medici was the ruler of France and the first one leading the French to victory. The second women were Mary Queen of Scotts who went into Catherine’s French Court. Mary Queen of Scotts was running away from murder or the complete loss of her kingdom–Scotland. The final queen was queen Elizabeth of Spain who did great work.

Young Queens, a book based on “Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power” is a telling story and this part of the book mentions - Catherine De Medici-. Catherine De Medici had 10 children and had 7 who lived past their early childhood. Catherine De Medici was a loving mother to her children and loved her children so much “it was like she was overcompensating from her violent childhood.” She didn’t know her parents, so she wanted to know and love her children even more than the typical mother. Catherine De Medici sent her kids to live with another family- a governess- this was typical for kings and queens to protect their children- and so they could do their official duties.

The Second women this book mentions is Mary Queen of Scots who was running from England at five years old. She was sent to France- under Catherine De Medici’s reign in return she would marry the French king’s son- but she could keep her throne. She was the son of James, the fifth of Scotland- the King of Scotland.  At the age of nine Mary faced attempted poisoning, which showed the risk to her life.

The Third historical figure is Elizabeth of Spain. The Spanish led an inquisition against Muslims, protestants and Jews. They killed non-Catholics and also forced non-Catholics to convert- they led secret police to root out non-Catholics in their colonies and Spain. Elizabeth was married to another leader in her vicinity, and she was a smart and cunning queen.

Catherine - De- Medici was the first important women, the 2nd Mary of Scotland and the 3rd was Elizabeth of Spain.  These leaders controlled entire modern-day countries and skillfully dealt with their enemies and the political agenda. Catherine typically dealt with the children at first, but they were sent to live with a governess. Mary queen of Scotts was the only inheritor of the Scottish throne, and the Scotts wanted to keep their throne. Elizabeth inherited the throne of Spain and lead the inquisition.

Women rulers lead with kids, marriage and pollical novelty protecting some and killing others.

Citations:

BBC History. "Catherine de Medici (1519–1589)." BBC History, accessed May 28, 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/de_medici_catherine.shtml.

1. Britannica Article on Catherine de’ Medici

Encyclopedia Britannica. "Catherine de’ Medici." Last modified April 16, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-de-Medici.

2. Young Queens by Leah Redmond Chang

Chang, Leah Redmond. Young Queens: Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023.lafayette.marmot.org+1Macmillan Publishers+1