St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

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In the late 1500s the French Wars of Religion took place. This was a period of civil wars between French Catholics and French Protestants, known as Huguenots. Many conflicts occurred, but one of the most notable ones was the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. This was one of the most horrifying decimations in history. After the Reformation many Calvinists or Huguenots began to arise in large groups in France. They were referred to as heretics, a person who rejects the Catholic faith. The Roman Catholics began to persecute the Huguenots. Even though the Huguenots were outnumbered they rose up against the Catholics to defend their rights. This upset the Catholics greatly and led to the massive tension between the two groups. There is a mystery of who planned the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Most people believe that this event was premeditated by Catherine de' Medici, the widow of Henry II and mother of the three successive kings, Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. She had a great deal of influence on her sons and influenced them to go against the Huguenots. There have been many situations in the past that persuaded people to think that Catherine was the instigator of the massacre. She was well known for having a strong dislike for the Huguenots, as well as being responsible for assassinations and poisonings. In 1565, Catherine de' Medici and her son Charles IX and her daughters Margaret of Valois and Elizabeth, wife of Philip II, investigated the political and religious questions at the conferences of Bayonne. The Duke of Alba, who attended these conferences wrote to Philip II: "A way to be rid of the five, or at most six, who are at the head of the faction and direct it, would be to seize their persons and cut off their heads or at least to confine them where it would be impossible for them to renew their

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