The Serpent Queen

Queen Catherine begins to tell the story of her life to Rahima, a servant girl, revealing how she came to enter the French Royal Court at the age of 14.

Young Catherine begins to learn how to outwit the royal household in order to secure her future.

Prince Henri returns from war with a new mistress, Filippa, and a baby. Catherine resorts to extreme measures to produce an heir.

Catherine has become a mother. King Francis suffers a fall from his horse while hunting with Henri and Catherine.

King Henri departs to lead an army to defend France and places Catherine in charge as Regent, allowing her to test her powers further. Catherine asks Rahima to search Mary's room for a letter.

Catherine has a dream that predicts that her husband will be wounded while jousting. Catherine and Henri decide that their son Francis should delay his wedding to Mary.

Catherine aims to unite France under King Charles IX, pushing her agenda of a secular state; the Bourbons present an ambitious trade deal with Protestant England; as tensions rise on the Privy Council, the Guise's plan to reignite religious conflict.

With peace balanced on a knife's edge, Catherine attempts to calm tensions by allowing the Bourbons to pursue the trade deal with England. Catherine halts the investigation into the Duke of Guise's arson involvement.

News of Edith's miracle spreads throughout Europe; the Bourbon's leverage an opportunity for England to exploit France; Catherine must return urgently to France when Anjou's temper causes damage.

Charles is ready to make his own rules, rejecting his mother's influence; with a rebellion on the rise, a mysterious plan is set, but when loyalty can be so easily swayed...miracles can happen.

Catherine relinquishes her seat on the Privy Council, but not before securing a place for Anjou; a religious war is on the horizon as Queen Elizabeth lands in the Netherlands; France's saving grace may be a marriage.

Queen Elizabeth's arrival sparks manipulation and intrigue within the Valois Court; a dramatic fencing match for the Queen's affections ends in a shocking revelation, leaving the Court in turmoil.