This book examines the first thirty years of Elizabeth I’s reign from the perspective of the Valois kings, Charles IX and Henri III of France. Estelle Paranque sifts through hundreds of French letters and ambassadorial reports to construct a fuller picture of early modern Anglo-French relations, highlighting key events such as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, the imprisonment and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the victory of England over the Spanish Armada in 1588. By drawing on a wealth of French sources, she illuminates the French royal family’s shifting perceptions of Elizabeth I and suggests new conclusions about her reign.
"This is a solid, even important study for anyone interested in late Tudor foreign relations or royal image-making. Following in the footsteps of Carole Levin, Susan Frye, Susan Doran, and Ilona Bell, among others, Paranque brings a whole new dimension to our understanding of how Elizabeth's constructed image ... ." (Ben Lowe, Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. 51 (4), 2020)
"This book offers an interesting insight not just into England's relationship with France and Elizabeth's relationship with the Duke of Alençon, but also her relationship with his ambassadors and how she was able to control the proceedings. ... It would be useful for anyone studying England's relationship with France or anyone who wants to find out more about Elizabeth's marriage negotiations with the country." (Tudor Life, Issue 56, April, 2019)
"This book offers an interesting insight not just into England's relationship with France and Elizabeth's relationship with the Duke of Alençon, but also her relationship with his ambassadors and how she was able to control the proceedings. ... It would be useful for anyone studying England's relationship with France or anyone who wants to find out more about Elizabeth's marriage negotiations with the country." (Tudor Life, Issue 56, April, 2019)