Coligny, Gaspard II de, lord de Châtillon

Coligny, Gaspard II de, lord de Châtillon

Gaspard II de Coligny, detail of a portrait by an unknown artist, 16th century; in the Musée …

(credit: Courtesy of the Musee Conde, Chantilly, France; photograph, Giraudon—Art Resrouce, New York)

(born Feb. 16, 1519, Châtillon-sur-Loing, France—died Aug. 24, 1572, Paris) French soldier and leader of the Huguenots in the French Wars of Religion. He served in the Italian campaign (1544), won renown for his skill and bravery, and was made admiral of France (1552). He announced his support for the Reformation in 1560, joined the fight when civil war broke out in 1562, and became sole leader of the Huguenots in 1569. Later he began to exert influence over Charles IX and came to be seen as a threat by Catherine de Médicis. After Catherine's attempt to instigate his assassination failed, she convinced the king that the Huguenots were plotting to retaliate against Charles himself. Charles then ordered the deaths of Coligny and the Huguenot leaders in the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew's Day.