The Huguenots in France.

 

By 1560 Calvinism had spread to many parts of France. The French Protestants were called Huguenots. Many were well to-do and they included a number of important nobles such as Admiral Coligny and Henry of Bourbon, King of Navarre. Their Protestant beliefs, however, often brought them into armed conflict with the Catholics.

At that time France was ruled by a boy King, Charles IX. In fact, his mother, Catherine de Medici, was the real power behind the throne. She was distrustful of both the Catholics and the Huguenots and used them both in turn when it suited her.

Civil war first broke out in 1562 when number of Protestants were murdered at Wassy. The Huguenots retaliated and murdered the leader of the Catholics. Civil war broke out again in 1568 -70 but concluded with a peace treaty which allowed the Huguenots limited freedom to conduct their religion in peace. In this situation of greater trust, Admiral Coligny became a close adviser to the 20-year-old king.

Charles IX, he urged the king to wage war against Catholic Spain in the Netherlands rather than against the Huguenots. Catherine de Medici, understandably jealous of Coligny’s influence, formed an alliance with the leading Catholic noble, the Duke of Guise.

Paris by now was seething rumors, its mainly Roman Catholic population was inflamed and fearful of what might happen if the country turned Protestant. This became a distinct possibility when the Huguenot Henry of Navarre, a possible future king, married the king’s sister Margaret of Valois (a Catholic) on 18 August 1572. Four day later a gunman shot and wounded Coligny in the street in a bungled assassination attempt ordered by a queen.

Henry of Navarre.

Many thousands of Huguenots were butchered in the blood bath which followed the St Bartholomew Massacre. Henry of Navarre, however escaped after temporary agreeing to become a roman Catholic once more. Many of the fleeing Huguenots were given refuge in Catholic cathedrals, such as those at Vienna and Lisieux.

In fact, the massacre, far from eliminating the protestant, made them more determined than ever. In 157 they acknowledged Henry of Navarre as their leader. Now the Catholics of France had every reason to fear the future. King Charles IX had died in 1574 and had been succeeded by Henry III who had no heir. This meant that the Protestant Henry of Navarre was now the legitimate heir to the throne of France.

Once again France was racked with civil war. The Duke of Guise helped to form the Catholic league the Huguenos and also against King Henry III, who was not desire to see France become Protestant. He was afraid the French might support the Dutch and the English against him in the Spanish Netherlands.

When Henry III had the Duke of Guise murdered in 1588. Paris rose up in rebellion against him. Henry III was himself murdered the following year after turning to their Huguenots for support. When he died, the Protestant Henry of Navarre became King of France as Henry IV.

The Catholic league, aided by Spanish troops, stoutly defended Paris against the new king although they lost the battles of Maylene and Ivry (where Henry was aided by a contingent of English troops). During the long siege of Paris, frequent processions were held to raise morale.

Without Paris, however, Henry IV could hardly call himself king of France. He knew that France, which was largely Roman Catholic, would never tolerate a Protestant king. This is why he declared himself ready to return to the Catholic faith. On 25 July 1593 he made confession and attended Mass in the Abbey of St Dennis. He was quoted as saying “Paris is worth a mass’, although there is no proof that he ever said this. Most of the members of the Catholic league, realizing they could not win, were prepared to have him back as their king. Some were among the crowds which shouted ‘Vive le Roi’ when he entered Paris.

Whether Henry became a genuine Catholic or not is largely irrelevant. What is certain is that he did the right thing for France at that time, he had not., the civil war would have gone on and on. What is more, he made it possible for Catholic and Huguenots to live together in peace. In 1598 he issued the edict of Nantes which gave France’s Protestant a degree o religions freedom. This freedom lasted until 1685 when the Edict of Nantes was revoked (cancelled) by Louis XIV