Interpretations: The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day Flashcards
What is the evidence that The Massacre was planned?
The gates to Paris were locked than the citizenry armed on the morning of the 24th August 1572.
(counter: this was to defend against a Huguenot attack from the 4,000 strong army outside Paris)
The King took responsibility after The Massacre.
What is the evidence that The Massacre was spontaneous?
The Massacre opposed all of Catherine’s policy towards the Huguenots since the Edict of January in 1562.
The King initially tried to stop the Massacre in Paris and only took responsibility after it was over.
The religious nature of the killings suggests a sudden outpouring of Anti-Huguenot anger rather than a calculated attack.
Why go to all the effort for peace and arrange a Valois-Huguenot marriage to kill Huguenots?
Who is traditionally blamed for the assassination attempt?
Catherine de Medici
Why might Catherine de Medeci have ordered the attempted assassination?
Coligny was high in Charles IX’s favour, deposing Catherine.
Coligny was pushing for war with Spain which would be disastrous for France and opposed Catherine’s policy of peace.
Why might the Duke of Alba have ordered the attempted assassination?
Alba was governing the Netherlands on behalf of Phillip II.
Coligny was proposing a campaign into the Netherlands and had secretly sent support to Dutch rebels in Mons. (who were besieged by Alba)
