CATHERINE DE' MEDICI

Catherine de' Medici (13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589), daughter of Lorenzo II de' Medici and of Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne, was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France. As the mother of three sons who became kings of France during her lifetime she had extensive, if at times varying, influence in the political life of France. For a time she ruled France as its regent.

Her policies, therefore, may be seen as desperate measures to keep the Valois monarchy on the throne at all costs, and her patronage of the arts as an attempt to glorify a monarchy whose prestige was in steep decline. Without Catherine, it is unlikely that her sons would have remained in power. The years in which they reigned have been called "the age of Catherine de' Medici". According to one of her biographers Mark Strage, Catherine was the most powerful woman in sixteenth-century Europe.

1. Catherine de’ Medici

a)    was a Spanish noblewoman and Queen consort of France

b)    was a French noblewoman and Queen consort of Italy

c)    was an Italian  noblewoman and Queen consort of France

d)    was a French noblewoman and Queen consort of Spain

2.  She worked to

a)    reinforce the glory of France monarchy

b)    reinforce the links between Italy and France

c)    maintain the power of Aragon monarchy

d)    reinforce Italian monarchy

3. According to Catherine’s biographer, Mark Strage, she

a)    was one of the most powerful woman in the 16^th century Europe

b)    was one of the cruellest woman in the 16^th century Europe

c)    was of  the smartest woman in the 16^th century Europe

d)    was  the most powerful woman in the 16^th century Europe