Catherine also championed astrologers and soothsayers, most famously Nostradamus, whom she consulted for predictions about her children’s futures. This fascination fueled Protestant propaganda that she practiced dark magic or poison craft. In truth, astrology was widely accepted science at the time, and Catherine’s reliance on horoscopes reflected Renaissance norms.
A Mother First: Catherine’s Devotion to Her Sons
One of the most consistent threads in Catherine’s life was her fierce maternal devotion. She tirelessly worked to secure thrones, marriages, and advantages for her children. Even her often ruthless political maneuvers were primarily driven by her determination to keep the Valois line on the French throne.
Under Charles IX, she effectively governed as co-monarch, especially as his health failed. Under Henry III, she remained the indispensable royal matriarch, traveling across France to rally support, broker deals with rebellious nobles, and stabilize a monarchy under siege.
Though she sometimes resorted to assassination or political betrayal, Catherine believed these harsh measures necessary to preserve her sons’ reigns in a France teetering on anarchy. shutdown123