Huguenots (french calvanists)
Huguenots (french calvanists)The Huguenots, French Protestants, became the center of political and religious quarrels in France between 1500 and 1600. Important people such as Anthony King of Navarre, Louis I de Bourbon de Conde, and Admiral Gaspard de Coligny were Huguenots. They were named the Huguenots by the French Roman Catholics. The name, Huguenots, is believed to be from Besancon Hugues, a Swiss religious leader. The Huguenots were the followers of John Calvin's teachings, and they belonged to the Reformed Church. As the Huguenots became a large part of the influential political group in France, the Catholic government persecuted them more and more. Catherine de Medicis, Queen Mother of France, had once encouraged the Huguenots, but now was in conflict with the Huguenots over their rising power. Catherine, with her ruthless tactics, planned with the help of Duke of Guise, a massacre of Huguenots. The massacre was carried out on August 24, 1572 in the early morning of St. Bartholomew's Day. In Paris on that day 10,000 Huguenot people were murdered. The Huguenots blamed France for the massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day and started a civil war over the event.
A twist in fate helped the future of the Huguenots. For Henry IV was in a delicate position with his public, over the assassinations of Duke of Guise and his brother, the cardinal, which forced him to alie with Henry of Nevarre a Huguenot. Later after Henry IV got assassinated himself; Henry of Nevarre inherited the French throne in 1589. Henry, then being in rule, decided that the best way to keep the peace and be a successful king, is to...
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