The Relationship between Elizabeth I & Catherine de Medici with Dr Estelle Paranque

About this episode

What happens when two of the most powerful women of sixteenth-century Europe meet across the political and religious divides of their age? Elizabeth I of England and Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother of France, never had a simple relationship. Separated by borders, faith, and competing political interests. In this episode, I’m joined by historian Dr Estelle Paranque to explore the fascinating relationship between these two formidable figures. What did Elizabeth and Catherine think of one another and what can their encounters tell us about the ways women could exercise political influence in Renaissance Europe?