Catherine de Bourbon (1559-1604). Influence politique, religieuse et culturelle d'une princesse calviniste

The death of Catherine de Bourbon, only sister of Henri IV, in 1605, marked the end of an era. Catherine was the last princess of Navarre, the last Protestant royal princess and the last sister of a king to be truly involved in the political life of the kingdom. Thus, Marie-Hélène Grintchenko argues, her demise altered the religious and political landscape of France, opening the way for the development of absolute monarchy and the confessionalisation of Church and State (967). In this monumental work of over 1,000 pages, Grintchenko illustrates in detail, the political, religious and cultural influences of Catherine de Bourbon, in Navarre and the French kingdom and, after her marriage, in the duchy of Lorraine.

The book is divided into three sections. The archives of the Chambres des Comptes of Pau and Nérac and of the Estates of Béarn form the basis of the first two thirds of the work, along with the personal and political correspondence of the princess. The first section is entitled ‘structures and networks around the last Princess of Navarre’. Catherine's genealogy, kinship, lineage and latterly her marriage alliance, are analysed to illustrate the ‘networks’ within which she lived and operated. There is detailed reconstruction of Catherine's household and its evolution over time and a long chapter on the administration of the domain and territories of the house of Navarre. One small point of interest is the small number of ministers attached to Catherine's household. Other than Palma-Cayet, a long-term ‘servant’ until his ‘defection’ to Catholicism in 1595, the princess preferred to use the services of local pastors, where she resided.

The second section of the book examines the political role of Catherine de Bourbon during the three ‘phases’ of her life, her regency of the kingdom of Navarre 1577-1592, her role at the court of Henri IV 1593-99 and especially her actions as ‘protector’ of the Reformed churches of France and finally, her ‘career’ as duchess of Bar in Lorraine. For fifteen years, Catherine acted as regent for her brother in Navarre, while he fought in the religious wars. She administered the provinces, defended them from Spanish and League threats and raised money and troops for Henri. The accession of Henri to the French throne, but more particularly his abjuration of Protestantism, disturbed this alliance and tensions arose between brother and sister. However, Catherine played an important role at the centre of power. In 1593, for a short period, she acted as regent in the Council. Catherine held court for her brother in the absence of a queen in the kingdom, for the household of Louise de Vaudémont lost prestige after the death of Henri III while Marguerite de Valois remained at Usson until 1600. Those who entered Catherine's service had regular access to the king and she provided entertainments where the great could mingle. Finally, Catherine played the traditional role of royal bride, as a peace symbol between King Henri and his erstwhile enemy, the leagueur house of Lorraine. Although her preference was to marry her kinsman the comte de Soissons, Henri IV would not allow such a close alliance of near relatives and all that could mean for the royal succession. Rather, he offered Catherine a partition of the Navarre patrimony in return for marrying the duke of Bar.

Catherine is best known as a devoted Calvinist, remaining so even after her marriage and subsequent pressure on her to convert to Catholicism. Most of her household and certainly her intimates were Protestants. She promoted Protestantism in Navarre and after her move to the French court she defended the interests of the Reformed Churches. Catherine could potentially provide a rallying point for Protestant discontent at the very heart of royal power. But Grintchenko argues that the princess was a moderate. She intervened little in the direct affairs of the Protestant churches. She also worked to preserve civil peace, to moderate the discontents of the great Protestant aristocrats and while in Navarre and at the French court she had Catholics in her entourage. Grintchenko argues that rather than proving a Calvinist thorn in the side of Henri VI, Catherine's presence allowed Reformed services to take place at court when they were officially banned from Paris, permitted Protestant views to be represented at the centre of power and therefore appeased faction, to some extent.

A third section of the book is devoted to literature, propaganda and controversies involving Catherine, including works she authored and those written by her circle or dedicated to her. This is an extremely interesting discussion of the literary influences surrounding an aristocratic woman. As such it is an important piece of work in its own right which ought to be widely read. For example, Catherine was a keen patron of ballets. These could be intensely political works, such as the ballets of 1592 and 1593 in Pau and Tours. Prepared by Catherine's aunt and friend the duchess of Rohan, they urged her to join Henri in France and to work for his destiny but in the hope of being allowed to marry Soissons; Catherine made clear her desire for emancipation and to be allowed to marry the man of her choice, but all in loyal support of the king and kingdom.

The length of the book may mean that readers quarry it for information rather than read it from beginning to end. That would be a shame. There is much here of use for historians of noble families and of the role of women in society and politics. The book is well written, clearly structured and impressive in its level of detail. If there is a small criticism, it is that it lacks extensive comparison with other aristocratic women of the later sixteenth century, so Catherine's experience can appear singular. Also, each chapter could usefully end with a summative conclusion of the main analytical points. But the book provides an invaluable study of the economic structures of domains and of the role of a woman in religion, politics and literature.