# St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/1572-st-bartholomew-s-day-massacre
Location: Paris and France

Thousands of Protestants were killed in Paris and provincial violence after an attempted assassination of Admiral Coligny. Within the broader Renaissance & Wars of Religion period, Renaissance monarchy brought Italian wars, humanist culture and overseas exploration. The Reformation then fractured the kingdom, producing decades of civil war between Catholic and Protestant factions. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is Charles IX (King of France). St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre mattered because religion was closely tied to political legitimacy, community identity and public institutions. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre mattered because religion was closely tied to political legitimacy, community identity and public institutions.

Ruler at the time: [Charles IX](https://history-france.com/rulers/charles-ix)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=St.+Bartholomew%E2%80%99s+Day+Massacre&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=St.+Bartholomew%E2%80%99s+Day+Massacre)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of French history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_French_history)