lamentable civil wars [1] upon which France now entered, both parties displayed a ferocity of disposition more befitting pagans than Christians. But it should be borne in mind that many on both sides were actuated by political ambition, rather than by religious conviction, knowing little and caring less about the distinctions in the creeds for which they were ostensibly fighting.
Sieges, battles, and truces followed one another in rapid and confusing succession. Conspiracies, treacheries, and assassinations help to fill up the dreary record of the period. The Treaty of St. Germain (in 1570) brought a short but, as it proved, delusive peace. The terms of the treaty were very favorable to the Huguenots. They received four towns,—among which was La Rochelle, the stronghold of the Huguenot faith,—which they might garrison and hold as places of safety and pledges of good faith.
To cement the treaty, Catherine de Medici now proposed that the Princess Marguerite, the sister of Charles IX., should be given in marriage to Henry of Bourbon, the new young king of Navarre. The announcement of the proposed alliance caused great rejoicing
- ↑ What are usually designated as the First, Second, and Third Wars were really one. The table below exhibits the wars of the entire period of which we are treating. Some make the Religious Wars proper end with the Edict off Nantes (1598); others with the fall of La Rochelle (1628).
First War (ended by Peace of Amboise) 1562—1563. Second War (ended by Peace of Longjumeau) 1567—1568. Third War (ended by Peace of St. Germain) 1568–1570. Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day, Aug. 24 1572. Fourth War (ended by Peace of La Rochelle) 1572–1573. Fifth War (ended by Peace of Chastenoy) 1574–1576. Sixth War (ended by Peace of Bergerac) 1577. Seventh War (ended by Treaty of Fleix) 1579–1580. Eighth War (War of the Three Henries) 1585–1589. Henry of Bourbon, King of Navarre, secures the throne 1589. Edict of Nantes 1598. Siege and fall of La Rochelle 1627–1628. By the fall of La Rochelle the political power of the Huguenots was completely prostrated.
