Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society The Medici vs. Tudor Rivalry
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Feb 20, 2026 
Estelle Paranque, historian and author specializing in Elizabeth I and Catherine de' Medici, explores their unexpected rises and rivalrous diplomacy. Short, vivid scenes cover contrasting personalities and sex lives. Hear tactics: marriage offers as statecraft, Le Havre’s fallout, the Mary Stuart crisis, and theatrical courtship with the Duke of Anjou.
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Unexpected Routes To Power
- Neither Elizabeth I nor Catherine de' Medici expected to rule but both rose to extraordinary power through different routes.
- Their unexpected access to authority shaped how each wielded influence and navigated male-dominated politics.
Power Through Motherhood Vs. Power From Self
- Catherine gained power largely through motherhood and acting as queen mother and regent for her sons.
- Elizabeth claimed power from being a king's daughter and insisted her authority came from herself, not motherhood.
Check When Propaganda Emerged
- Recognize propaganda timing: the 'Virgin Queen' image was crafted in the 1580s, not throughout Elizabeth's reign.
- Use contemporary ambassador reports to separate rumor from court reality when studying royal reputations.