THE RIVAL QUEENS by Nancy Goldstone (non-fic)

Nancy Goldstone has written an excellent book, a duel biography, about a most dangerous and dramatic time in French history.  Her chronicle of the end of the Valois rule is a reliable picture of the state of Europe at a time when strong women ruled in England and France.  “The Rival Queens” is both well-written and readable.  With Queen Elizabeth secure in her throne in England, the rival queens of the title are Catherine de’Medici (1519-1589), widow of Henry II, and her daughter Marguerite de Valois (1553-1615).  It is a fascinating and exciting time in history, despite the upheavals and rivalries  all over Europe, the late Renaissance arts are flourishing.  It was a time when Machiavellian principles rendered ruling families manipulative and dysfunctional and alliances changed precipitously

Catherine de’Medici ruled in all but name as regent over her weak sons.  But, her position was vulnerable, and she masterfully and nefariously played off the powerful Catholic League against the Huguenot Party led by the House of Navarre, switching sides as it suited her.

The beautiful Marguerite was also a strong-minded woman, but without the power of her mother, and was often the pawn of intrigue and family jealousies.  Against her will and inclination (she was in love with a cousin) she was married off in great pomp and ceremony in 1572 to Henry of Navarre, who by a quirk of fate, later became Henri IV of France.  The history of the time is filled with Henry's and Henri’s and keeping them straight as they float in and out of importance is a challenge.  Five days after the ill-fated marriage of Marguerite and Henry, the bloody St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre began.  The royal wedding spectacle, on which massive amounts of money was spent, was part of a plot by Catherine to lure the Huguenots into the narrow streets of Paris to assassinate their leaders.  After this, Marguerite’s life became one of extreme danger, as she never knew whether she would be in favor or out of favor with whatever brother was currently ruling under the thumb of Catherine.

Despite all, the royal brothers fell, one by one, until the last, Henri III, Catherine’s favored son, is assassinated.  Before dying, he names Henry of Navarre his successor. But, by this time, Marguerite and Henry had been separated for many years and Marguerite had been living in exile.  Eventually a deal was brokered between them, and the marriage was dissolved and annulled in 1599.  After this, Marguerite was allowed to return to her beloved Paris, and she reconciled with Henry who was now Henri IV.  She drifted into a position of a favorite family aunt, becoming especially close to the children of Henri and his second wife.

Goldstone is an excellent writer and the history related in the book is as gripping as a novel with twists and turns as different factions move in and out of alliances and power.  There was always a power struggle whether at home or abroad, and adding to the intrigue were the many love affairs carried on by the royals. The author provides an extensive bibliography and reference notes.  There is also a helpful map and family chart. This is an excellent well-written read, especially for anyone interested in French history.