THE SERPENT QUEEN
CATHERINE DE MEDICI SERIES
While we are waiting to see French series on Diana de Poitiers who was the mistress of her husband, Catherine de Medici is getting her own show over at Starz where they've just ordered THE SERPENT QUEEN series based
on a book by Leonie Frieda. The eight part saga will portray the Italian noblewoman and queen of France, married to King Henry II and mother of kinds Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III. She had huge influence in France during the 16th century.
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| Justin Haythe is writing and producing the series |
Considered an immigrant, common and plain, she was married into the
French court as an orphaned teenager (she was the last of the direct line of the Medicis) expected to bring a fortune in
dowry and produce many heirs, only to discover that her husband is in
love with an older woman, her dowry is unpaid, and she’s unable to
conceive. Yet, only with her intelligence and determination, she manages
to
keep her marriage alive and masters the bloodsport that is the
monarchy better than anyone else, ruling France for 50 years. As you
know, Starz is also preparing a series on Eleanore of Aquitaine!
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| Catherine's
golden wedding dress embroidered with jewels is one of history's most
famous royal gowns, it was designed by Isabella D'Este, marquise of
Mantua, who was the style queen of those times. A special tax was
imposed on the people of Florence to cover the expenses of the dress and
Catherine's dowry, the richest of that age in the whole Europe. |
While it may not be my cup of tea, gotta give it to ya, you surely made it sounds quite interesting 😉
ReplyDeleteThe crowd does love my history lessons :) I'm currently finishing reading a book on her by Ivo Lucatti, funny coincidence.
DeleteI loved what thy did with her in "Reign" although it was far from the truth.
DeleteIt was, the whole series was far from the truth. Hope they do good casting in this one.
DeleteIt's not my kind of TV series, but it's more fun and entertaining to learn some history this way.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
But people do have to have in mind that shows usually don't follow history fully, if at all. The Great and Crown would be vile example of it.
DeleteI'm sure it will be a hit for Starz. I can't wait to see the cast and costumes for this one.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that in books about her they usually don't depict her as villain but as someone who had to do certain things to keep the throne for her three sons. As a Medici she was certainly very smart and clever.
DeleteSo many things to show about Catherine de Medici, promising!
ReplyDeleteShe had such a rich life and such political intelligence and cunningness too.
DeleteThis one looks pretty good! Marriage as a business decision is such a foreign concept to me, although it still happens today. My old boss was forced to marry a man she didn't love. In return, she ran away from Fiji and moved the US.
ReplyDeleteA business marriage is the only hope for some of us LOL
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