JK> What was the St.Bartholomew's day massacre?
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Dear Jeff,
This is the article in the Encyclopedia Americana, 1971 edition,
vol. 24, p. 123:
"SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, Massacre of. Name given to the murder of the Huguenots in
France which began on St. Bartholomew's Day, Aug. 24, 1572. Its authorship is
usually attributed to the king's mother, Catherine de' Medici, but is causes
were probably more complex. It began with a plot to murder Coligny, whose
influence with the king was dreaded by the queen-mother and others. This
failed, but it aroused a good deal of suspicion, and both sides prepared for
bloodshed. Taking advantage of the presence of many Huguenots in Paris, they
having come to attend the marriage of Henry of Navarre and the king's sister
Marguerite, Catherine, backed by the Guises and others, persuaded Charles IX to
strike at their foes. He consented, and the massacre began in Paris, and then
spread to the provinces, lasting until October 3. One authority state that
50,000 were killed, but 25,000 is probably nearer the mark. Gregory XIII,
misinformed, ordered a Te Deum and had a medal struck depicting an angel with
cross and drawn sword slaying the Huguenots."
Thus far the Encyclopedia Americana. The numbers of those killed as given
above a probably too high. The available figures are not reliable. A recently
quoted estimate is 3.000 to 4,000.
Pope Gregory XIII was at first told that the killings were in response to a
Huguenot plot to assassinate king Charles IX. He was soon better informed and
grew angry at the efforts made to deceive him. When, in October, 1572, the
Cardinal of Lorraine wished to present Maurevel, who had fired on Coligny on
August 22, Gregory XIII refused to receive him, saying "I do not receive
murderers." Later, Pope St. Pius V condemned the intrigues against Coligny.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
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