Catherine de Medici - wife of King Henry II of France

The cuckolded wife of Henry II, Catherine de Medici of Italy however maintained a much longer role in French politics than her husband, and through her over indulgence to their son who became Henry III, is thought by some historians, to be at the root of discontent that gave birth to the general revolt that ultimately led to the French Revolution.

• Said to be dumpy and unappealing, she was not without ambition, intelligence and knowledge of the ways of Kings and those in power. She became the ultimate 'Queen Mother' with three sons in a row to reign as kings of France in the Valois line.

• Even while her husband Henry I showered his mistress Diane de Poitiers with jewelry, and made no secret of his passion for her, it was Catherine who bore his children. Some say, because Diane de Poitiers told the king he had to do his duty and sire legitimate children. It is said the Queen tolerated their affair, while her rival moved into the royal household, even nursed her through scarlet fever. On Henry's death (1559 killed in a joust) Catherine finally reveled a little of her feelings "...for never has a woman who loves her husband liked his whore; for even though this is an ugly word.... one cannot call her anything else."

• She doted on their third son who ultimately became Henry III, who, from all accounts was openly a transvestite surrounded by a obsequious band of gay men called mignons, some of whom had more hold over Henry than his mother, and indeed would kill rivals for the position of King's favorite. Henry III was prone bouts of manic religious behaviour, and extravagant orgies, and Catherine even went so far as to arranging the latter.However when she tried to bring his attention back to matters of state and the looming war with Spain he paid no heed and continued in his extravagant way of life emptying the coppers and she despaired telling him that he raised money by 'robbing his people'.
  

• She was instrumental with her son King Charles IX, in the plot to assassinate the protestant Huguenot leader, and those who had gathered in Paris to celebrate the wedding of her very Catholic and youngest daughter Marguerite to King Henry of Navarre in what became known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. (oddly enough King Henry of Navarre ultimately became King Henry IV of France and began the Bourbon Line)

• Although blame is placed with members of the Valois family, Catherine was said to be behind the hangings and murders of her daughter, Margot's subsequent lovers, of whom Don Juan of Austria was claimed to have said, " [Margot] looks like a goddess of Heaven, ....better suited to ruin men than save them. Her beauty was sent to damn us."

Catherine died in 1589 (HenryIII was assassinated in the same year leaving Margot the sole surviving heir to the throne, and being a woman she was unable to inherit it so it passed to her husband King Henry of Navarre.)