Sources

= Was the St. Bartholomew Massacre based on religious creeds to destroy religious cultures? If so then why,and who was the main source behind this bloody massacre? Was Catherine De Medici responsible for the entire Massacre? = I believe over many years in many countries there has always been wars and rumors of wars.The St. Bartholomew Massacre falls on the eve of August 24, 1572. Religious cultures against one another. Protestants against Catholics, The Catholics felt through out their kingdom that violence was approaching them.The radicals were on the rise and something needed to be done to stop this refromation. Catherine De Medici is a main source behind the Massacre, however there are others that were included in this bloody mass.
 * Argument: **

The Reformation in France, was known for partitioner and others joining together to come up with their own church under God. The reformation cause and uproar. Some of the reformers were extremely quite an focused on reading the Bible, and having small bible study groups. However, this wouldn't last long the movement in France was not what the Catholics wanted. The Protestants had to live by their standards according to their man made rules. Nevertheless, a religion called Calvinism would moved into France that would cause this religion was an impact on France."Calvinism in France appealed to particular social groups, notably skilled artisans independent shopkeepers and middle class businessmen such as bankers".(Carter Lindberg) These reformers started worshiping openly out in public, this type of behavior was unacceptable according to the Catholics.


 * Behind the Massacre : **

Catherine De Medici was born April 13, 1519 she was forced into the power because of her husband death. In France she was considered a wicked queen.In the event of St.Bartholomew Day Massacre, Catherine thought the Coligny was trying to have her and her children killed. However, Catherine would do anything to protect her children. It has been said that Catherine was one of the ringleaders behind the Massacre that caused thousands to die.

Catherine was trying to build up her own power went to extreme measures to have her daughter Maugarite to marry Protestant Henry of Navarrre. Nevertheless, Catherine had to come up with a plan to gain power from the protestants and the Catholics she thought this would be a great way to reconcile the two. Catherine played hand and hand on both sides She felt Gaspard de Coligny was going to take over her son Charles. In fear she orders an assination for Coligny. "The principal incident that sparked off the religious violence in the capital in August 1572 was the abortive attempt on the life Coligny on Friday morning 22 August."(Holt) Catherine main objective was to protect her family.



The Guises were Catholics who were interested in destroying the calvalnism religion. When one of the main leaders Henry Guise were assinated. This motivated the Catholics to attack the Huguenots. The Guises were linked with Catherine to assinate Coligny together. However, the fact remains that Catherine De Medici was not the only person behind the attack on Coligny. The Guises were very rich in power and they felt if they could work with another party the could move Coligny out the way.

The Huguenots were part of the Protestant Reformation of France,they to were strong believers in the Calvinism religion. The Hugenots were on the rise in Paris. "History of the Pope he believed that the wedding of Henry Navarre was held in Paris in order that Catherine should be in positions to destroy the Hugenots."(H.Butterfield)

Was this Massacre really about religious creeds or was it about destroying one particular radical group that came alone to practice their own religion? There were 4 events that led to the major Massacre. "1.The attempted assisination of Gaspard de Coligny on 22 August. 2. The coordinated murder of several dozen Hugenot leaders sometime in the early morning hours of 24 August, St. Bartholomew Massacre, 3. The wave of poplular killings that broke out in the capital of Paris during the next three years 4.The wave of provincial massacres that were spawned by the violence in the capital during August, September and early October 1572."(Mack Holt) In the height of power one event change the face of France. The St. Bartholomew Day Massacre was one of the worst bloody baths ever. Thousands of people were murdered excution style including, women, men, boys an girls. Some of the children were bathed and killed in there own parents blood. Religion is one of the main reasons for the Massacre.Protestants voices were being heard all across France, and the Catholics felt they had to do something to quite the protestants. The Catholics closed the city down and killed any protestant that was in sight, this went on for four days. This was absolutely a premeditated gesture to destroy a relgious culture. The Catholics didn't like the Hugenots actually they hated the Hugenots. The religion tension between the two grew into a nasty battle on what was right and who should belong to a certain religious group. This is why the war was named the French religious war. Many scholars believe that most of the men of this was massacre was carrying out clerical duties from the priets. My supporting argument, would definitely allow a different thought process on the massacre, because of the fact that Catherine de Medici and the Guise family were both in this together. Protestants were just as eagar to destroy Catholics and the same was vice versa among the Catholics. This Massacre was a tradegy that cause lives of innocent people including children. Once the death of Admiral Coligny was done the protestants tried to take lead, they went bellistic. They killed him in his bed and threw his body out of a window to the army below to devulge his body. All this happend because of religion and the queen-mother Catherine de Medici and the Guises Catherine wanted power and the Guises wanted to do away with calvinism religion. In the end the both won, but behind it came a massacre. After the massacre most of the protestants went back and were rebaptized in the Catholic faith because fear. Some still had the faith that there religion should live on. It seems as if the Hugenots had no choice but to return to what was the majority faith. Catholics again ruled and they wanted everyone to go by their rules. Even though it's been said that some of the story that was told about the Massacre is not true."New documents were brought to light, so that after 1830 the tide definitely turned against the older idea of carefully premeditated conspiracy"(H.Butterfield). However, if this was a premeditated act, using your own judgement this type of magitude of violence was just cruel and unjust to the protestants. Thought the protestants were on the rise with their more radical behavior. There is still know justification for the slayings and murders. For what cause you may ask? Does it all revolves around religion? In conclusion the St. Bartholomew massacre was one of the most horrific crimes, that took place during the reformation period. In essence the Huguenots were still protected by certain laws. They were able to worship and gather on the out side of nearby towns. I believe that because the Catholics couldn't destroy all the Huguenots they decided to come up with a plan of peace."The Huguenots, about 15 percent of the population, were granted rights to worship on Protestant estates and in many areas but not within five leagues of Paris. The were also granted civil rights, such as their own courts for legal protection and eligibility to hold offices,as well as political rights, including 200 fortified places."(Carter Lindberg Religious wars were most common back in 1500's because of the reformation period. At one time the Catholic faith govern all faith based churches. However,once the reformation started people begun to start their on affiliations based on their own religious creed and what they believe in. Though most radicals posed a threat, there should have been a law prohibiting certain persecution against these protestants. To slaughter these people so violently because of their faith was absolutely absurd. Most religions are based on what God you want to serve, this violent outburst created a religion war and in the end lives were lost and the reformations continued.
 * Supporting Argument: **





Here is my argument.

Here are my first references.

Here is my question

__**Scholarly Sources **__

Title: Martyrs, Myths, and the Massacre: The Background of St. Bartholomew  Author(s): Donald R. Kelley  Source: The American Historical Review, Vol. 77, No. 5 (Dec., 1972), pp. 1323-1342  Publisher(s): The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the American Historical Association  Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1861309

The French Wars of Religion, 1562–16292nd EditionSeries:New Approaches to European History(No. 36) Mack P Holt George Mason University, Virginia

 Title: Acton and the Massacre of St Bartholomew  Author(s): H. Butterfield  Source: Cambridge Historical Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1 (1953), pp. 27-47  Publisher(s): Cambridge University Press  Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3021106

[|The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and Images of Kingship in France: 1572-1574] James R. Smither [|The Sixteenth Century Journal]  Vol. 22, No. 1 (Spring, 1991), pp. 27-46Published by: The Sixteenth Century JournalStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2542014

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