Catherine de' Medici from the powerful Italian family married the future King Henry II of France at 13. When he was impaled through the eye during a joust Catherine ruled France as regent for three of her sons during civil and religious wars. She was also a patron and devotee of mystic Nostradamus.
Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! ... Show More
Jul 21
10 Historic Royal Thrones from Around the World
If you want to be a monarch, you need three things: ultimate power over your domain, a brilliant gold crown to impress the peasantry, and the best seat in the palace. The idea of giving the most important person in a given space a special place to sit is near-universal. Many anci ... Show More
32m 25s
Aug 2024
Catherine de' Medici, Serpent Queen
<p>Queen Consort of France and mother to three successive Kings, Catherine de’ Medici's legacy could have been one of intelligence, fortitude, artistic patronage and religious moderation. But instead, as with so many women in positions of power, Catherine's life and actions have ... Show More
39m 58s
Mar 2024
Catherine de Medici of France Part 2: Prophecies, Princes & Protestants | 14
In part one, Catherine de Medici married into French royalty and secured her spot in court by having a bajillion kids. But now her husband is dead, and his rivals are out to usurp Catherine’s power. If Catherine is going to keep control, she'll have to get creative – and maybe ge ... Show More
40m 45s
Dec 2018
SYMHC Classics: Catherine de' Medici, Italian Orphan
Today we're revisiting a 2010 episode from Katie and Sarah about Catherine de' Medici, who remains the most famous female member of the Medici clan. Orphaned at a young age, Catherine survived struggles with childhood illness and eventually became the queen consort of France. Le ... Show More
24m 2s
Oct 2025
The Scandalous Royal Mistress Who Ruled France
Is this strangest threesome in royal history?!We're endlessly fascinated with the lives of royal mistresses, and this has to be one of the most notorious.It takes place in 16th century France between Henry II, his wife Catherine de Medici and his much older mistress, Diane de Poi ... Show More
37m 45s