6. The Scheming Protestant Queen

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we think about French perceptions of Elizabeth’s support for her Protestant coreligionists on the Continent, focusing in particular on: (i) Catherine de’ Medici’s irritation at Elizabeth’s support for the Huguenots, and her fear that Elizabeth’s clandestine support might escalate into open war with France; (ii) the French monarchy’s interest in the movements of the English navy; (iii) the perception in France of Elizabeth as a Protestant “troublemaker”; (iv) Henry III’s attempts to find a settlement that suited both Catholics and Protestants in France, and Elizabeth’s usefulness as a potential mediator with Protestants; and (v) the extent to which the French Wars of Religion impacted Elizabeth’s relationship with the French royal family.

Course

In this course, Dr Estelle Paranque (New College of the Humanities) explores the reign of Elizabeth I through the eyes of the French monarchy. In the first module, we think about the French perception of Elizabeth at the very beginning of her reign, before turning into the second and third modules to explore the various marriage negotiations that took place between France and England in the period 1564-81. In the fourth module, we think about the relationship between Elizabeth I and Catherine de’ Medici, before turning in the fifth module to explore the unexpected friendship that arose between Elizabeth and Henry III of France. Finally, in the sixth module, we explore French perceptions of Elizabeth’s support for Protestants on the Continent, and the extent to which this undermined relations with the (Catholic) French monarchy.

Lecturer

Dr Estelle Paranque is Lecturer in Early Modern History at the New College of the Humanities in London. The main focus of her research is Elizabeth I and her relations with France, though she also has a more general interest in Anglo-French relations during the sixteenth century, monarchical representations in Europe, and the Valois kings. Her most recent book, Elizabeth I of England Through Valois Eyes: Power, Representation and Diplomacy in the Reign of the Queen, 1558-1588 (2019) focuses on the perception of Elizabeth I of England by the French royal family and their ambassadors from 1568 to 1588.