The History of The De Medici's Orphan Daughter - One of the most powerful women in history: Catherine De Medici

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.

The Medici family was a longstanding central European power family. The Medici’s were an ancient powerful family over the course of a few centuries, she was sent to France during her birth, and she eventually became the regent over her 6-year-old son. The Medici Family started with Cosimo and goes through the end of this article to Catherine De Medici. She was tolerant of Protestants until she fought the war of religion. She became regent over her 6-year-old son becoming one of the few women to gain that much power up until that point- except maybe Cleopatra. Catherine De Medici was an orphan, came with a lot of money, was the French king’s son and She became regent over her 6-year-old son- scheming for power to keep her family in control.

              Catherine De Medici came from a medieval central European, commoner, power family. Catherine De Medici was an orphan at birth- both her parents died before the age of two. Her father was Lorenzo De Medici; Lorenzo De Medici was the Grandson of Cosimo De Medici- Cosimo was the first notable Medici and was the leader of Florence. The De Medici’s had slowly grown in Power over time- they were a key dynasty in Florence and in Rome- the Papacy. The De Medici’s were a powerful, military, statesmen, artistic and banking family- they lead there armies very well. King Franci’s the Second married Catherine De Medici and had 7 kids.[1]

Catherine De Medici was tolerant of the Protestants put became heavily involved in the wars of religion. Catherine De Medici was sent to France under the tutelage of France’s king Francis the second. King Francis’s son would Mary Catherine De Medici and she would become the Queen of France. She was tolerant of the Protestant’s even though she was a Catholic except- for the French Wars of Religion cause- the Bartholomew day massacre. Thousands of Protestants were killed in the “Red Wedding” that happened in Game of Thrones that’s where it came from! She became the regent over France after her husband died and had to scheme to stay in power.[2]

 Charles the 6th became the king of France at the Age of 6. Catherine De Medici became the regent for her son, Charles the sixth, who was nine years old at the time of his accession to the throne. Francis was supposed to become the Regent over Charles the Sixth, but Francis was assassinated, and Catherine bribed the other contender for the Regency. As Catherine led the war of religion against the Protestant’s many people were killed- One of Catherine’s Son’s was even a Protestant and fought against her in France’s wars of Religion. [3]

Catherine De Medici came a powerful Italian family – was an orphan – and had 7 children. She married King Francis the 2nd and had 7 children. She led the wars of religion against the Protestants in France and had to fight one of her son’s who fought against her in the wars of religion. The De Medici’s only got more powerful over the course of there families history going from doctors to control of the Papacy, parts of Italy, Scotland, Spain and France.

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

Mark, Joshua J. "Catherine de' Medici." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified June 22, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/Catherine_de'_Medici/.

[1] Leah Redmond Chang, Young Queens: Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023).

[2] Joshua J. Mark, "Catherine de' Medici," World History Encyclopedia, last modified June 22, 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/Catherine_de'_Medici/.

[3] Joshua J. Mark, "Catherine de' Medici," World History Encyclopedia, last modified June 22, 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/Catherine_de'_Medici/.