Catherine de Medici (Civ6)

Catherine de Medici (13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Italian noblewoman who was queen consort of France to king Henry II from 1547 until 1559, and queen mother to three different kings from 1559 until her death, a period during which she exerted enormous influence over the French throne. She leads the French in Civilization VI.
Although nominally a cultural player, France is a dangerous opponent. Catherine will be aware of what you are up to, and will be able to use Spies and her potent Industrial era army to protect her interests.
This is the standard version of Catherine de Medici when players do not have the Persona Packs enabled. When they are enabled, Catherine de Medici will be split into two alternate personas: Magnificence Catherine, with a new appearance and abilities, and Black Queen Catherine, using her former model and abilities.
== Intro ==
 It falls to you, Catherine de Medici, to use your gifts of knowledge and of the arts to unite your people. Steer carefully through these troubled times, Queen Mother of France. You will build great wonders, drawing visitors from all corners of the earth. With your keen awareness of all things, both those seen and those hidden in the shadows, your empire will certainly stand the test of time.
== In-Game ==
Catherine de Medici's unique agenda is Black Queen. She wishes to gain as many Spies and as much Diplomatic Visibility as she can, and dislikes leaders who ignore espionage.
Her leader ability is Catherine's Flying Squadron. It grants her 1 level of Diplomatic Visibility greater than normal with every met civilization. She also gains a free Spy after researching Castles, and all her Spies start with a free promotion.
== Detailed Approach ==
Like Cleopatra and Qin Shi Huang, France wants to be a major player in the wonder game. Success there should make them major contenders for a Culture Victory. With Catherine at the helm, they should have information on all their rivals, allowing them to focus on just those wonders they can be sure to build first. Second in priority to wonders are well-placed Châteaux, also helpful for Culture Victories. All this should help them move through the Civics Tree quickly, getting to Corps and Armies before many of their rivals. If they have them at the same time as the Garde Impériale, watch out!
== Lines ==
Catherine de Medici is voiced by Lara Parmiani. She mainly speaks French with an Italian accent, switching to Italian with her native Florentine pronunciation in her negative lines and Civilopedia quote.
=== Voiced ===
Codename 	Quote (English translation) 	Quote (French/Italian) 	Notes
Agenda-based Approval 	I see you are also practiced in the subtler arts of statecraft. I've always rather enjoyed a bit of espionage, myself. (lit. "Impressive, it seems your spies are everywhere! My companion ladies would be delighted to speak with them during the festival.")	Impressionnant, il semble que vos espions soient partout! Mes dames de compagnie seraient ravies de les entretenir pendant la fête. 	
Agenda-based Disapproval	You really should start paying attention to what's going on around you. There are games being played here on so many levels. (lit. "You should start paying attention to what's happening around you. Believe me, there are way too many games being played.")	Dovreste prestare attenzione a ciò che v'accade d'intorno. Credetemi, vi sono fin troppi giochini che stanno avendo luogo. 	
Attacked 	You dare attack my sovereign realm? I don't believe even Nostradamus could have predicted this! 	Vous osez attaquer mon royaume? Je ne crois point que Nostradamus lui même aurait su le prédire! 	
Declares War 	Masquerading as friends was kind of fun, wasn't it? Unfortunately it's time to drop the pretense and get to the business at hand. (lit. "Ahahah, don't be surprised. In truth, you'd be a fool if you didn't know what was going to happen.") 	Ahahah, non siate sorpreso. Se non v'accorgeste di quanto stava per accadere, siete invero un folle. 	
Defeated 	I have lived long enough to know when I am defeated. Carry on. 	J'ai vécu assez longtemps pour savoir reconnaître ma défaite. Poursuivez votre chemin. 	
Greeting 	I am Catherine, the Queen Mother of France, and I welcome you to the realm. I do so look forward to learning all there is to know about you. 	Je suis Catherine, Reine Mère de France. Je vous souhaite la bienvenue en mon royaume. J'ai grand désir et envie de découvrir tous vos secrets.	
Quote from Civilopedia 	It is well cut; now you must sow. (lit. "Well made and well cut; now we sew it.") 	Buona fattura e buon lo taglio; or' lo si cucia. 	The line is based on her quote from historical novel Sur Catherine de Médicis by Honoré de Balzac - "Bien coupé, mon fils, maintenant il faut recoudre."wikisource:fr:Sur Catherine de Médicis/Introduction Those were the words of Catherine to her son Henri III after the assassination of the Duke of Guise, who led the Catholic League in France against the centralization of the state, fearing the upcoming of Henri of Navarra on the French throne since the latter was a Protestant. Henri III got sick of him and assassinated him, but that move led to his death, as the king was assassinated by the ultra-Catholic monk Jacques Clément.
=== Unvoiced ===
Delegation: I have sent you a trade delegation with all of the customary gifts: herbs, olives, various cheeses, and baguettes to eat them with, of course.
Accepts Delegation from Player: We received your delegation at the palace. Thank you. The gifts will be treasured.
Rejects Delegation from Player: Tempting, but no.
Accepts Player's Declaration of Friendship: I accept your offer of friendship. And of course, you'll be invited to the next royal wedding.
Rejects Player's Declaration of Friendship: I apologise, but this would be too sudden a change. Perhaps another time?
Requests Declaration of Friendship: I extend to you the royal hand in friendship. Do you accept it?
Player Accepts Declaration of Friendship: Thank you.
Player Rejects Declaration of Friendship: How unfortunate!
Denounced by Player: The glory and might of France will not be tarnished by such obvious lies.
Denounces Player: I don't like the look of what you've been up to. What would your friends think of this information?
Too Many Troops near Her Border: Do you think to intimidate us with force? That will not go well for you, at all.
Invitation to City: You have not lived until you have had our delicacies of food and drink. And I can show you how to use a fork, if you wish.
Invitation to Capital: I am enamored with architecture. Tell me, does your capital have any triumphant arches, or large metal towers?
== Civilopedia entry ==
== Trivia ==
* Catherine de Medici's appearance in the final version of the game is different from her appearance in the early builds and promotional materials, which depicted her with larger earrings and with a glass of wine, instead of the glass of champagne she currently holds.
* Catherine de Medici's diplomacy screen shows a château alongside a river with a black swan swimming in it.
* Catherine de Medici's leader ability references the name given to her ladies-in-waiting, who spied and seduced courtiers for political ends on her orders, while her leader agenda references her alleged links with witchcraft and the occult.
* Catherine has several relations to other Civilization leaders and great people.
** She is one of several leaders in Civilization franchise to be descended from both Frederick Barbarossa and Eleanor of Aquitaine. 
** From 1559 to 1568, Catherine was the mother-in-law of Philip II, resulting from his marriage to her daughter, Elisabeth of Valois.
** Catherine's ancestor, Giovanni de' Medici, is a Great Merchant in Civilization VI.
* This persona represents Catherine wearing black clothing for mourning, which she often did after the death of her husband Henry II in 1559.
== Gallery ==
File:CivilizationVI France Catherine hero.jpg|Promotional image of Catherine de Medici
File:Catherine de Medici loadscreen (Civ6).png|Catherine de Medici on the loading screen
File:Catherine-de-medici-2-sized.jpg|A painting of Catherine de Medici by François Clouet (which appears to have inspired her in-game model)
== Videos ==
thumb|center|300px|First Look: France
== Related achievements ==
== References ==
== See also ==
* Catherine de Medici in other games
ru:Екатерина Медичи (Civ6)
Category:French