The black legend that has surrounded Catherine de Medici (1519-1589) since her stint as regent of France for her three eldest sons has made her one of history’s most infamous women — poisoner, fan of the occult and the supposed mastermind...
Lucrezia Borgia (1480 – 1519) was a member of one of the most infamous families of the early modern period. The Borgia name is synonymous with poison, murder, and incest. While a great deal of the family’s reputation is earned, a lot of it is...
Isabella d’Este (1474-1539) was the Marchesa of Mantua and a key cultural figure of the Italian Renaissance. She is known as a trendsetter and patron of the arts, popularizing fashions and art styles, but was also a political figure and ruled Mantua as regent...
While Castile did not have a law banning women from succeeding the throne of Castile, Isabella (1451 – 1504) — one of the medieval period’s most famous queens — did not grow up expecting to rule her country of birth. She had two...
During the medieval period, England was characterized by a deeply religious atmosphere. Communities’ social experiences were centered around following rules as written in the Bible and attending church as well as other religious ceremonies. Margery Kempe was...
Christine de Pizan (1365 – 1430) was an Italian writer at the French court during the Hundred Years War between England and France. She is considered the first professional female writer. Christine moved to Paris at the age of 5. Her father, Tomaso, had already...
