(1519–72). In the midst of the political intrigue that marked the religious wars in France during the last half of the 16th century, the figure of Gaspard de Coligny, admiral of France, stands out. While so many of the leaders of both warring parties—Catholics and Huguenots alike—were using the bitter spirit of religious controversy for their personal advantage, Admiral Coligny, the head of the Protestant cause in France, won the respect of both sides by his unselfish devotion to what he believed were the true interests of his native land.
Gaspard de Coligny was born of a noble family in Châtillon-sur-Loing, France, on Feb. 16, 1519, two years after Martin Luther began the Reformation in Germany. Coligny had a brilliant military career. He won the title of admiral in 1552. Through the influence of his brother, Francis d’Andelot, he became a Huguenot (French Protestant).
After the tragic death of King Henry II in a tournament in 1559, Coligny placed himself with the prince of Condé in the forefront of the French Huguenots and demanded religious toleration from the government. Despite his efforts to obtain a peaceful settlement of the religious troubles, civil war broke out. When Condé was killed at the battle of Jarnac in 1569, Coligny was left as the leader of the Protestant armies. After gaining a victory at Arnay-le-Duc, he brought about a truce and returned to the court, where he gained the favor of young King Charles IX.
Catherine de’ Medici, the queen mother, regarded the friendship between Coligny and her son as a threat to her ambitions. She wanted to hold on to the power she had wielded ever since the death of Henry. Coligny, with his powerful counsel, stood in her way.
On Aug. 22, 1572, Coligny was wounded by the shot of an assassin hired by Catherine and members of the Guise family, leaders of the court intrigue. Charles at first swore to avenge the attempt on Coligny’s life. The next day, however, Catherine and her favorites worked upon the fears and prejudices of the young king until he consented to Coligny’s death.
Catherine asked nothing more and immediately began planning a general massacre. Most of the leading Huguenots of France were already in Paris for the wedding of their leader, Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France), with the king’s sister.
On the night of August 24, the feast of St. Bartholomew, a signal was given and the slaughter of the Huguenots began. Coligny was among the first to be slain. The wounded Coligny was attacked in his own home by a group led by Henry, duke of Guise. A German mercenary plunged a sword through Coligny’s breast and threw his body out of a window. Coligny finally died when another of Guise’s associates chopped off his head.
The massacre spread to other parts of France and lasted into September. Though estimates as to the total number of victims differ, it is generally believed that more than 20,000 were killed.
Coligny sent three unsuccessful colonies of Huguenots to the New World—the first in 1552 to Brazil; the second in 1562 to South Carolina, where they settled Port Royal; and the third in 1564 to Florida, where the promising settlement of Fort Caroline was established on the St. John’s River. The Fort Caroline settlers were all killed by a Spanish expedition in 1565.