France had a rather tumultuous relationship with its primary religious minority, the Huguenots (Protestants). By the mid-16th century tensions between Protestants and Catholics had nearly reached a breaking point; France was on the verge of a civil war. To try to prevent all-out war Catherine de Médicis, mother of the then king of France arranged a marriage between her daughter, Princess Margaret and Prince Henry III of Navarre. Margaret was behind both of her brothers for the throne, so it was believed there was no danger of a Huguenot taking the throne, so a political marriage seemed to be the best option. The royals were desperate to avert the building hostility between the Catholic and Huguenot factions.
Prince Henry was wed to Princess Margaret on August 24th, 1572. Catholics took the ensuing festivities as an opportunity to slaughter as many Huguenots as possible. This bloody day would forever be known as the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Shortly thereafter, in an effort to prevent more such tragedies, Prince Henry III converted to Catholicism. In 1576 however, he converted back to the Huguenot faith.
In 1584 after the death of the King’s younger brother, a Huguenot became crown prince. Then in 1589 the King was assassinated leaving Henry III of Navarre as King Henry IV of France.
The Catholics rebelled against a Huguenot on the throne, rallying around his uncle, Cardinal Charles de Bourbon. He finally defeated him in battle in 1590 but could not take Paris, a Catholic Stronghold. In 1594 King Henry IV converted to Catholicism once again famously saying “Paris vaut bien une Messe” (Translation: “Paris is well worth a Mass.”) and was officially crowned King of France in Paris.
In 1598 King Henry IV passed the Edict of Nantes, declaring that Catholicism was the official religion of France but Huguenots were to be tolerated. This finally ended the long and bloody civil war, allowing France to rise to the position of most powerful Empire in Europe. The Edict of Nantes stood for nearly a century, bringing with it an era of great peace and prosperity for France. It was revoked by King Louis XIV and triggered the mass exodus of Huguenots from northern France.
Prince Henry was wed to Princess Margaret on August 24th, 1572. Catholics took the ensuing festivities as an opportunity to slaughter as many Huguenots as possible. This bloody day would forever be known as the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Shortly thereafter, in an effort to prevent more such tragedies, Prince Henry III converted to Catholicism. In 1576 however, he converted back to the Huguenot faith.
In 1584 after the death of the King’s younger brother, a Huguenot became crown prince. Then in 1589 the King was assassinated leaving Henry III of Navarre as King Henry IV of France.
The Catholics rebelled against a Huguenot on the throne, rallying around his uncle, Cardinal Charles de Bourbon. He finally defeated him in battle in 1590 but could not take Paris, a Catholic Stronghold. In 1594 King Henry IV converted to Catholicism once again famously saying “Paris vaut bien une Messe” (Translation: “Paris is well worth a Mass.”) and was officially crowned King of France in Paris.
In 1598 King Henry IV passed the Edict of Nantes, declaring that Catholicism was the official religion of France but Huguenots were to be tolerated. This finally ended the long and bloody civil war, allowing France to rise to the position of most powerful Empire in Europe. The Edict of Nantes stood for nearly a century, bringing with it an era of great peace and prosperity for France. It was revoked by King Louis XIV and triggered the mass exodus of Huguenots from northern France.