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Reign of Henri II, husband to Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589) and under the thumb of his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Growing power of the House of Guise. Catherine was a politique, she worried more about power than religion when it came to ruling. She had influence over her husband.
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Henri II killed in a tournament accident. This ment his eldest son, Francois II was now in power.
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Francois was a sickly boy. His mother handeled all affairs of the country. She made alliances with powerful people.
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When brother died he gained the throne at age 10. Again ruled over completely by his mother.
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Catholic oppression of French Protestants reached a boiling point. Protestant "Huguenots" took up arms and formed a political party. About half of all the nobels in France became Protestant and joined the cause. There was about 8 wars total.
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Admiral de Coligny (military leader of the Huguenots) is murdered by Catholics along with thousands of other Protestants in Paris and surrounding provinces.
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Henri III de Valois, Henri de Navarre, Henri de Guise. Henri III had Henri de Guise assassinated. Catherine de Medici dies. Henri III attempts to flee to Henri de Navarre but is assassinated by a monk.
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Henri IV was supposed to be crowned king but is denied the right by the Catholics. Charles X is crowned but dies in the next year. Many didnt want him to become king but he still did.
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Henri converts to Catholicism to remain king. Although he is still secretly Protestant.
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Henri administers the Edict of Nantes. The Protestants were recognized as a separate political entity, with their own fortified towns and garrisons (paid for by the crown) to guarantee their security. They were not allowed to go into Paris to worship.