He also became
famous as King Henry's minister of finance.
After the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, the "Wars of the Huguenots"
in France continued with fury. In 1573, the year following the
massacre, by the Peace of La Rochelle Charles IX granted to the
Protestants partial toleration. By the Peace of Monsieur, in 1576,
Henry III granted them free exercise of their religion in all France
except Paris. Among French Roman Catholics this treaty caused deep
dissatisfaction, and in the same year they formed the Holy
League--also called the Catholic League--for the purpose of wiping
out the Huguenot party and raising the Guises to the throne. The
League made an alliance with Philip II of Spain.
Henry of Navarre, head of the Huguenot party after the death of
Conde in 1569, became heir-presumptive to the throne of France in
1584. The Holy League, refusing to recognize his title, proclaimed
the cardinal Charles de Bourbon heir-presumptive. On the death of
Henry III, successor of Charles IX, in 1589, the League proclaimed
Bourbon as king, under the title of Charles X. In the following year
Henry of Navarre signally defeated the League at Ivry, but still the
war went on. Battles and sieges, widespread intrigues, and frequent
assassinations kept the kingdom in a condition of tumult and alarm.
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