The St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
Summary
This episode details the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572, triggered by the wedding of Princess Margot and Henry of Navarre. After an assassination attempt on Huguenot leader Gaspard de Coligny, Queen Mother Catherine de' Medici and King Charles IX ordered the execution of Protestant leaders to prevent civil war. The targeted killings spiraled into a widespread massacre of thousands of Huguenots in Paris and across France, cementing Catherine’s controversial legacy.
Topics discussed
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King Henry II's fatal jousting accident
Catherine de' Medici's rise to power
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Introduction to St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Catherine de' Medici's political dominance
Tensions at the royal wedding
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The assassination attempt on Coligny
The decision to strike first
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The massacre begins and spreads
Outro and credits
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