She was betrothed to the prince, but forced to marry the king.

Step into the dramatic, high-stakes world of 16th-century Europe with our exploration of Elisabeth of Valois. Born to the formidable Catherine de' Medici and King Henry II of France, Elisabeth was the ultimate royal pawn married off to King Philip II of Spain at just fourteen to seal a fragile peace between two warring superpowers.

Join host Grace White as we separate historical fact from the romantic myths of Verdi’s operas. We'll explore how this young, glamorous French princess survived a terrifyingly austere Spanish court, navigated the intense pressure of her mother's political schemes from afar, and surprisingly captured the heart of history’s most famously cold monarch.

00:00:00 Introduction to Elizabeth of Valois

00:01:15 Childhood with Mary, Queen of Scots

00:02:30 Marriage to Philip II of Spain

00:04:05 Motherhood and Daughters

00:06:00 Tragic End and Legacy