The Many Faces of Catherine de Medici: La Madame Serpent or Misunderstood?

Written by Richita Bhattacharyya. Edited and Researched by Richita Bhattacharyya.

Catherine de Medici was an Italian born heiress who was little more than a political tool for her uncle Pope Clement VII. She was married to Henry of Valois, Duke of Orleans, who was the second son of King Francis I of France. During the entirety of her married life she was doomed to spend it in the shadows of her rival for Henry’s affections, Diane de Poitiers, who was the mistress of her husband. In the year 1559, King Henry of France passed away in a jousting accident. Thus began Catherine’s 30 year battle to preserve the French throne for her sons. It was these thirty years of her rule that was used by Protestant propagandists to paint the image of Catherine as a cold and ruthless woman whose only goal was to exterminate all opposition to the Catholic Church. However, what one has to understand is that Catherine’s personality like any other is subject to many facets which all combine to form the person that she is. This article will focus on the portrayal of the many aspects of Catherine’s character in art, literature and films. 

The painting above is the most publicized depiction of Catherine de Medici by Francois Dubois during the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. It shows the Queen Mother standing over the dead bodies of the French Huguenots in a regal and imperious manner. It displays quite clearly how the Huguenots wanted to incite public opinions against all Catholics and what better way to do it than targeting the most staunch follower of the Church of Rome and Queen mother of France to boot. Traditionally it was encouraged by Huguenots to believe that it was Queen Catherine who instigated the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre by attempting to assassinate the respected leader of French Protestant Admiral Coligny. Though upon greater other suspects to the crime were discovered namely the Duke of Alba and the Cardinal of Lorraine. But as shown above the Protestants as they did on previous occasions by means of the portrait clearly meant to name Catherine as their scapegoat. 

Compared to the Protestant portrayal of Catherine, the present day authors tend to view Catherine in a more sympathetic or objective light. One of the best written and probably the most objective view of the Italian born French Queen is by Leona Frieda. She gives a detailed imagery of Catherine’s character and the reasoning behind some of her more notorious decisions later on in life. One gets a clear cut impression of a young girl who had to fight her entire life not only for her inheritance but also to be recognized for who she was. The author does not justify any of her actions merely explains them to the public as she sees them. Another author Joan Plaidy in her autobiography of Catherine de Medici, titled, ‘Madame Serpent’; viewed Catherine in a more sympathetic light. She compared Catherine to any other woman of her time who had to look out for her inheritance and her jealousy regarding Diane was a common reaction of a wife with unrequited feelings for her husband. 

Other than books and paintings she has also been shown in quite a few movies. One is of La Reine Margot directed by Patrice Chereau. While the movie is centred on Catherine de Medici’s daughter Margot and her marriage to Henry of Navarre; nevertheless it gives an interesting if not negative insight into Catherine’s personality. She was played by Virna Lisi, and was shown as a remarkably cold woman concerned only with political matters and her power over the crown. So obsessed with power was she that she actually viewed her own daughter Margot as threat to her political influence. This is one of the most common representations of Catherine, as a ‘black hearted queen’ or as Plaidy would call her ‘Madame Serpent’. Another movie worth watching is Diane, directed by David Miller. Like the cinema above this too is not centrally focused on Catherine de Medici, on the contrary it is upon her long-time rival for her husband’s affections, Diane de Poitier. However, it provides a glimpse of the Catherine during her married years, where she was perpetually placed in the shadows of Diane. This is an important part of her life and shows a side of her personality not commonly focused on by authors or directors. This movie gives a great visual understanding of Catherine during the ‘ménage a trois’ that was a crucial and inevitable part of her married life. 

The idea behind this article is to show how many directors, painters and authors viewed this incredible woman and how they presented said views to the public. Was she a ‘poisonous serpent’, ruthless and pragmatic by nature? Or was she a victim of propagandists and misinterpretation of history? Or was she merely a desperate Queen fighting to preserve a great dynasty for her sons? This is a person who throughout the course of history generated more questions than answers. The diverse interpretations of her character and personality is truly mind boggling and quite difficult to know which version of events and analysis one can put their faith in. There is one thing which remains steadfast in the many opinions surrounding her, that is her indomitable will and pragmatic nature. No matter what books one reads or what movie one watches or which painting one views; the sheer force of her personality always shines through. This is a woman who left her mark in history not through her good looks or as a consort to a great Renaissance ruler (as many others have done) but through an iron will, great loyalty and regal bearing. As for judging her character well I invite you to try some of my recommendations from above and judge for yourself. 

Fact vs. Fiction: 

1) Catalina de Medici did not make use of poison as much as she has been rumoured to be. 

2) She used a variety of magical arts and poultices suggested by some of the best sorcerers of her age in order to conceive her son.

3) She was not a cold and distant mother to her children. Quite the contrary she and her husband, Henri of France were loving parents to their children. They had a special nickname for all of them and carefully tracked their growth and studies. 

4) She once built a secret panel on the floor of her room so that she could spy on her husband and his long-term mistress, Diane making love in the room down below. 

5) She dreamed her husband dying the night before he died. She was supposed to have pleaded with her husband to not take part in the joust that day but he did not listen to her and took a lance to his eye, finally dying of brain damage after nine days of suffering. 

6) Catherine for the rest of her life wore black in mourning and adopted the lance as her symbol to remind her of her loss.

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