Episode 162 - Elizabeth I & Catherine de Medici with Dr Estelle Paranque

Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Estelle Paranque about her new book, 'Blood, Fire and Gold', a joint biography of Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici.
Visit Dr Paranque's official website.
www.estellepar...
Find out more about your host at On the Tudor Trail.
onthetudortrai...
Join 365 Days with Anne Boleyn!
onthetudortrai...
♡ How you can support Talking Tudors!
PATREON: / talkingtudors
MERCH: talkingtudors....
Join our Talking Tudors Podcast Facebook group for all the behind-the-scenes news and updates.
/ 167751084023883
Music break courtesy of singer/songwriter Karliene.

[@Chipoo88]

Wonderful discussion. How wonderful to hear Dr Paranque’s balanced and factual view. We are so inundated with Anne and Elizabeth fan talk that often ends up being a lot of wishful thinking. Lots of respect for this historian

[@richardpearce1114]

This is fabulous. Estelle Paranque is so passionate for her subject she shines and dazzles. Listening brings to mind so many parallels about Queenship. I was struck by the similarities between Elizabeth, Catherine De Medici and the so called "She wolf" Isabella wife of Edward 11 all three of them have to behave and be meek and all 3 of them endured so much humiliation and abuse before they could seize power. Like Catherine, Isabella was able to seize control because she was mother of a young King. Dr Paranque notes here that "Queen Mother" is a title loaded with power - it's not a title chosen by accident. it's on record that our current Queen very much deferred to her own mother. She didn't do things like meet James Bond and parachute into the Olympics or take tea with Paddington bear while her mother was alive because as rumour has it "mummy wouldn't like it." It's so fascinating the way the dynamics of power are played out through personal relationships. When you come across an author who can bring those relationships to life and cast light on lives that are often played out in the shadows it's more than fascinating, it's thrilling - another great episode from Talking Tudors. "Blood, Fire and Gold" is going to be a must read!

[@Historian212]

Fascinating discussion and a great, new perspective on Elizabeth. I’m curious to know more about how the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre of Huguenots affected the relationship between Catherine and Elizabeth. I’m sure it must be in the book.

[@stephanieking4444]

Great to hear about diplomacy between women in leadership roles in the 16th century. There should have been more about some of the very big diplomatic topics of the time: the Free States of the Netherlands, St Bartholomew's Day massacre. This should have been framed within the necessity for both England and France to be sometimes odd allies (Protestant and Catholic) to limit the might of the Habsburg superpower. Those who worry about the remark concerning Clinton...worry not. It makes for about 1 second at the end of the episode. And it is only a very general statement in passing, likening Clinton to women 'who might have had good intentions for their countries'. 99.9% of the podcast is about Catherine de Medici and Elizabeth I

[@aurorarose7239]

I have an issue with your guest’s view of Hillary Clinton. Your podcast appears to be very recent. I am an American citizen and a woman who has practiced law for over 30 years in the U.S. Your guest apparently has not done any real research on Hillary Clinton’s actions during her political career and the evidence that Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, as a U.S. Senator, and as a candidate for the U.S Presidency has acted less than ethically, has lied under oath and broken many laws and oaths that she swore to uphold. I wish people, especially uninformed women, would cease placing Hillary Clinton on a pedestal and holding her up as a role model.As far as my experience as a woman working as an attorney, I did not let any barriers,if there were any, of being a woman be an impediment to my practice of law or my life in general. My wish is that women would stop looking at themselves as victims just because they are women and get on with fulfilling their dreams and destiny and quit blaming this “Patriarchal” society as a reason for their issues and obstacles in life. Believe me being a woman attorney in the 1980’s was still somewhat of a novelty but I did not let it impair my focus on my career.

[@JustineBrownsBookshelf]

Hear hear! I enjoyed this podcast until the Hillary Clinton stuff started. In any case I don’t accept that women get more flak in politics- if anything they get less. Being a woman shouldn’t insulate a politician from criticism. If you’re going to be a leader, prepare to be criticised!

[@aurorarose7239]

@@JustineBrownsBookshelf -Thank you!

[@debraleighscott]

So refreshing to hear women talking honestly about the illegal actions, the power lust, and the greed of Hillary Clinton. She is no role model.

[@JustineBrownsBookshelf]

@@debraleighscott Exactly- and to hear her compared to women of grandeur!!

[@Historian212]

Ridiculous. Clinton has been accused falsely for years, your conspiracy theories and obsession with Sec. Clinton are rubbish. “But her emails…” is now a joke across the country, when those who accuse her have done far worse. Get a life.