Performance, Poetry and Politics on the Queen's Day

A groundbreaking interdisciplinary analysis reveals how Catherine de Médicis and Pierre de Ronsard strategically utilized performance and poetry at the Palace of Fontainebleau to foster political harmony during a pivotal post-war period. The study highlights the dual role of Ronsard's Bergerie and Ariosto's Ginevra in the 1564 Fêtes de Fontainebleau, demonstrating their effectiveness as rhetorical tools to unite warring noble factions after the First War of Religion. By integrating theatrical history, literary analysis, and political context, this work advances understanding of Renaissance court performance practices and their cultural significance, while also addressing understudied aspects of early modern French courtly culture.

Scott, V., & Sturm-Maddox, S. (2017). Performance, Poetry and Politics on the Queen’s Day. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315247144