Drama at the Courts of Queen Henrietta Maria seeks to challenge the popular view of Henrietta Maria as a frivolous, meddlesome woman whose militant catholicism and love of theatre helped to provoke England towards civil war. Unlike other studies, it takes into consideration the queens nationality, discussing her actions in England in the light of her upbringing at the French court. It locates her within a network of family and friends throughout Europe, and demonstrates how these associations were reflected both in her political allegiances and in her cultural patronage.