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Catherine and Francis
Catherine and Francis1
Real Names: Catherine de Medici
Francis de Valois
Status: Over, ended in Francis' death
Relationship:

Mother and son

Length of Relationship:

Francis' whole life

Affiliates:

Kingdom of France

First Appearance: Pilot
GALLERY


"I would go into Hell for him."
Catherine about Francis

Catherine and Francis have a very close relationship. Francis is her favourite son and she watches over him closely. Catherine would do anything for her son, including murder. Catherine made him the man he is today.

History[]

Early History[]

Prince Francis was born, the heir to the French kingdom but was never close to his father, as he favoured his older half brother Sebastian. Catherine, perhaps to compensate for the lack of love he received from his father always tried to make sure Francis had the best of things, and freedom to grow into a strong and caring young man.

Season 1[]

Prior to the arrival of Mary Stuart, Queen Catherine was supportive of the engagement between Francis and Mary. However, Catherine's view quickly changed when Nostradamus had a vision, claiming that if they wed, Francis would die. And so, Catherine decided to strip Mary of her right to wed her son by attempting to have her virtue taken, which failed. [1]

When Francis found out of Catherine's plots against Mary, he warned Catherine that if something were to happen to Mary, he would suspect her and he would never forgive her. [2]

However, Catherine continued with her attempts on Mary, by attempting to ruin her reputation, and also by trying to make her seem like a less desirable partner in Francis' eyes. But none worked. Francis finally takes a stand against Catherine when he is to exile court, in which he says that if he were king, he would execute her if she were to harm any of his loved ones. [3]

Much later on, with the prophecy no longer serving as an obstacle in their relationship, Francis and Mary married and Francis remedied his relationship with his mother. [4] But French Court was poisonous for any relationship, and Catherine and Francis were no exception.

When King Henry went mad, Catherine and Francis had different approaches on how to deal with the situation, which clashed. Catherine even went behind his back and tried to poisoned Henry, but backtracked on her plan just in time. Francis, however, found out and it caused another rift in their relationship.

Season 2[]

When King Francis ascended the throne, Catherine was set on protecting her son's reign and his birthright. She stepped side for Mary to be crowned queen, but she wasn't eager to do so. However, she eventually warmed to Mary, and when she learned that Francis berated her for miscarrying their child, she chastised Francis for doing so. [5]

After staying out of ruling affairs for some time, Catherine returned to counsel Francis and Mary not to lend funds to King Antoine. [6] After seeing that Francis and Mary are indeed apart and have no intention of getting back together, Catherine pushed Lola to become Francis' mistress, as they have a son together and he fancies her. [7]

In light of Mary's betrayal, Catherine began hating her again, and she was adamant on bringing her down, along with Louis Condé. When Francis fell into a coma, Catherine berated Mary for not being a wife to her son. [8]

Even after Condé rose up against Francis and attempted to take his crown, Francis pardoned him. That did not sit well with Catherine, who believed that he should have been hanged for his crime. And so, Catherine had Lola and her baby kidnapped and framed it on Condé to hasten his execution. However, her plan went awry when it was discovered that she was indeed the one behind it. [9]

When Francis found out about it, he stripped his mother of her titles, power, income, and exiled her from French Court. The two had a definite falling out. [9]

Season 3[]

Francis and Catherine's relationship was incredibly strained, and got even worse when Francis found out that Catherine had been consorting with Queen Elizabeth - Queen Mary's enemy. [10] Locked in a dungeon, Catherine tried to appeal to her son's feelings to get out of it, but was unsuccessful. Mary even suggested that he execute Catherine for treason, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, as she was still his mother. [11]

Francis eventually freed her from the dungeon, as per the request of Mary, and tasked Catherine with gaining votes to be elected Regent, so that she can take care of Charles once he's king. [12] After Francis' miraculous recovery, he could continue being king, so there was no need for Catherine to become Regent, and even she felt that it was better that way. [13]

However, Francis soon died at the hands of assassins, and a heartbroken Catherine had to gather her strength to fight for the Regency and for her son Charles, which she knew was what Francis would have wanted. [14]

Notes[]

  • Catherine learned of a prophecy from Nostradamus. [1]
    • "If Francis and Mary wed, it will cost young Francis his life."
  • Both Francis and Catherine knew she would kill to protect him. That is why Francis was the only one who could make her stop her attempts to kill Mary and later Bash. [3]
  • Francis stripped his mother of her titles, lands, and income, and exiled her from French Court after betraying him. [9]
  • Had her locked in the dungeon. [11]
  • Freed her from the dungeon as per Mary's request. [12]

Quotes[]

Prince Francis: You'd kill everyone in this room to get my on the throne. To protect me, in hope that I would then protect you. But my first order as King would be to execute you if you were to harm anyone here. My brother, my father, Mary. This has to stop. [3]

Queen Catherine: Don't get sentimental about a father who was never sentimental about you. [15]

Queen Catherine: One bedroom for husband and wife. Good luck to both of you with that. [16]

Queen Catherine: He will never be king, but he might be your only chance at being a father and I can promise you that raising him will be the singular joy of your life. [16]

Queen Catherine: Good morning! How's the happy trinity? Father, mother, unborn son - oh, I'm hoping for a son! Plenty of time for daughters later. [17]

Queen Catherine: She has a childlike belief that a woman should trust her husband. I find... I wish it were true. [18]

King Francis: What's Mary doing here?
Queen Catherine: She's looking for her rapist. And if you don't catch him soon, that's what she'll be doing for the rest of her life. In every room, and in every crowd. [19]

King Francis: After all this, could Mary still be helping him?
Queen Catherine: Yes! Out of guilt. Or affection. [20]

Queen Catherine: I knew it was only a matter of time before Condé showed his true colors. I should have poisoned him when I had the chance! [21]

Queen Catherine: If we die, it is at her hands. And if we survive, I will never forgive her! [22]

Queen Catherine: Francis, how many times must you pay the price for ignoring my council? [22]

King Francis: You say that I ignore your council, so let's hear it. [22]

Queen Catherine: I don't have much to live for these days, but I would still die for my children. [23]

Queen Catherine: I'm sorry I wasn't the mother you wanted me to be. I did my best.
King Francis: I know. In your own way. [23]

Queen Catherine: For what is France without my Francis? [24]

King Francis: You cannot keep me in a cage. Even one built with love. [24]

Queen Catherine: That isn't Francis, he's gone.
Queen Mary: I can't let him go.
Queen Catherine: Let him go, and hold on to me. [24]

Queen Catherine: Your love, it gave him so much joy, and that's what you must remember. [24]

Appearances[]

Season One
Pilot Snakes in the Garden Kissed Hearts and Minds A Chill in the Air Chosen Left Behind Fated For King and Country Sacrifice Inquisition
Royal Blood Consummation Dirty Laundry The Darkness Monsters Liege Lord No Exit Toy Soldiers Higher Ground Long Live the King Slaughter of Innocence
Season Two
The Plague Drawn and Quartered Coronation The Lamb and the Slaughter Blood for Blood Three Queens The Prince of the Blood Terror of the Faithful Acts of War Mercy Getaway
Banished Sins of the Past The End of Mourning Forbidden Tasting Revenge Tempting Fate Reversal of Fortune Abandoned Fugitive The Siege Burn
Season Three
Three Queens, Two Tigers Betrothed Extreme Measures The Price In a Clearing Fight or Flight The Hound and the Hare Our Undoing Wedlock
Bruises That Lie Succession No Way Out Strange Bedfellows To The Death Safe Passage Clans Intruders Spiders in a Jar

Related Pages[]

Pages relating to Catherine are the following:

Queen CatherineMegan Follows 
Catherine's PoisonsCatherine's BibleThe Flying Squad
Catherine and NostradamusCatherine and MarySebastian and Catherine
Catherine and HenryCatherine and FrancisCatherine and Christophe
Catherine's Fashion Style
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