Protestants in France
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Protestants in France
The Protestants in France were the minority, encompassing about 1/10 of the total population. What made them worth mentioning during this time was the majority of the Protestants were amongst the nobility. The conflicts between the Protestants and Catholics escalated with the death of Henry II in 1559, in which three houses tried to take the throne.
Francis II – At age 15 took the throne after the death of Henry II. He wedded Mary, Queen of Scots, also a niece of the Guise family. His advisors Francis of Guise and Charles, cardinal of Lorraine ruled in his name. He died in 1560.
House of Guise – Staunchly Catholic family, gained enormous amounts power under Francis II. Also was a branch of the House of Lorraine.
House of Montmorency-Chatillon – Moderate Catholic family, although this house plays a role in the balance of powers for the throne, its most notable member was Admiral de Coligny, a Protestant leader in the Wars of Religion.
House of Bourbon – Mainly Protestant family, and was next in line for the throne if the House of Valois does not have any heirs. Most notably are Antoine King of Navarre, and Louis Prince de Conde.
Catherine de Medici – Wife of the late Henry II, and mother of Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. Charles the XI took the throne Sept. 1561, but Catherine became regent, she tried to unite the Protestants and Catholics at the Religious Conference of Poissy. A compromise failed to be reached, Edict of January issued promoting toleration in 1562.
The First War 1562-1563 – Massacre at Vassy — started the first in a series of wars leading to the death of thousands of innocent people. It was supposedly started by Duc de Guises servants getting in a fight with some Protestants attending service in a near by building. This scuffle escalated into the slaughter of at least 30 (other sources 1000 or 1200) men, women, and children.
The St. Bartholomews Day Massacre 1572 – In order to bring peace to France, Catherine arranges the marriage between her daughter Margaret and Henry de Navarre, the ranking Protestant blood prince. The House of Guise for various reasons despises Admiral de Coligny, now welcomed in the kings council, and they plot against him along with Catharine. On the 24th of