24 août 1572 - St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Description:

France experienced religious division from the Calvinists, known as the Huguenots. Armed protest broke out at wedding of Henry of Navarre (protestant) and the King’s sister (Margaret of Valois), which was intended to bring about peace. However, Huguenot wedding guests were slaughtered, leading to a 15 year long civil war that was only ended when moderates on both sides agreed to compromise, and Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) sacrificed ideological purity for the sake of compromise.