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Catherine De' Medici: The Crafting Of An Evil Legend, Lindsey J. Donohue

Young Historians Conference

Catherine de’ Medici is commonly known and referred to by historians as an “Evil queen”. This paper aims to examine how her reputation has been built upon legend and myth rather than fact. It explores how sixteenth century Europe’s overwhelming patriarchal prejudice and bias, along with an underlying presence of Xenophobia, has influenced the conclusion many historians have made about Medici. Rather, Catherine de’ Medici was a strategic ruler whose goal was to maintain peace at all cost during a religiously trying time. Through the commentary of a sixteenth century anonymous European writer, the paper aims to show that Medici …