Leonie Frieda Libri

The bestselling revisionist biography of one of the great women of the 16th century

The bestselling revisionist biography of one of the great women of the 16th century Orphaned in infancy, Catherine de Medici was the sole legitimate heiress to the Medici family fortune. Married at fourteen to the future Henri II of France, she was constantly humiliated by his influential mistress Diane de Poitiers. When her husband died as a result of a duelling accident in Paris, Catherine was made queen regent during the short reign of her eldest son (married to Mary Queen of Scots and like many of her children he died young). When her second son became king she was the power behind the throne. She nursed dynastic ambitions, but was continually drawn into political and religious intrigues between Catholics and Protestants that plagued France for much of the later part of her life. It had always been said that she was implicated in the notorious Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, together with the king and her third son who succeeded to the throne in 1574, but was murdered. Her political influence waned, but she survived long enough to ensure the succession of her son-in-law who had married her daughter Margaret.

'A captivating biography ... This rollicking story is packed with anecdotes' The Times 'I can't suppose that there has been a better English biography of Francis, or indeed is likely to be one' Catholic Herald Francis I was inconstant, amorous, hot-headed and flawed. Arguably he was also the most significant king that France ever had. A contemporary of Henry VIII of England, Francis saw himself as the first Renaissance king. A courageous and heroic warrior, he was also a keen aesthete, an accomplished diplomat and an energetic ruler who turned his country into a force to be reckoned with. Bestselling historian Leonie Frieda's comprehensive and sympathetic account explores the life of the most human of all Renaissance monarchs - and the most enigmatic.

The book is one of drama on a grand scale, a Renaissance epic, as Christendom emerged from the shadows of the calamitous 14th century. The sweeping tale involves inspired and corrupt monarchs, the finest thinkers, the most brilliant artists, and the greatest beauties in Christendom

Životopis Obsáhlý životopis francouzské královny Kateřiny Medicejské. Její osobnost je vylíčena na pozadí složité vnitropolitické situace ve Francii 16. století. Autorka se pokusila vytvořit vyvážený portrét Kateřiny Medicejské, postavy, kterou tradiční dějepisectví vykreslilo spíše v nelichotivých barvách. Pozoruhodná žena a pragmatická politička vládla v neklidné době prudkých náboženských sporů mezi katolíky a protestanty, v období, kdy Francii hrozil politický a územní rozvrat. Můžeme sledovat její nelehké dětství v Itálii, sňatek s vévodou Jindřichem Orleánským, pozdějším králem Jindřichem II. Po Jindřichově smrti roku 1559 se Kateřina Medicejská jako královna matka ujímá de facto vlády nad Francií (panuje spolu se svými nepříliš schopnými syny) a stává se na dlouhou dobu jednou z určujících postav francouzské politické scény. Obratně a energicky hájí zájmy své rodiny, zároveň usiluje o udržení náboženského smíru a jednoty francouzského království.