Catherine de' Medici

Catherine de' Medici was an influential Italian noblewoman who became Queen of France in the 16th century. Born in 1519, she married Henry II of France and became a significant political figure after his death. Catherine is known for her role in the French Wars of Religion, navigating the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. She was a patron of the arts and helped promote the Renaissance in France. Her legacy is complex; while she aimed for stability, her reign was marked by conflict and intrigue, earning her a reputation as a shrewd and sometimes controversial leader.