ST. BARTHOLOMEW, MASSACRE OF. This was the name given to the massacre of the Huguenots, which began in Paris on St. Bartholomew's Day, Aug. 24, 1572. The initiative for the crime rests with Catherine de' Medici. Disquieted by the growing influence of Admiral Coligny, who against her wishes was endeavouring to draw Charles IX. into a war with Spain, she resolved to have him assassinated. The attempt failed, however, and Catherine then determined to massacre all the Huguenot leaders.
After holding a council with the Catholic leaders, including the Duke of Anjou, Henry of Guise, the Marshal de Tavannes, the Duke of Nevers, and Rene de Birague, the keeper of the seals, she persuaded the king that the massacre was a measure of public safety, and on the evening of Aug. 23 succeeded in wringing authorization from him.
The massacre began on Sunday at daybreak, and continued in Paris till Sept. 17. Once let loose, it was impossible to restrain the populace. From Paris the massacre spread to the provinces till Oct. 3. The Duc de Longueville in Picardy, Chabot-Charny (son of Admiral Chabot) at Dijon, the Comte de Matignon (1525-97) in Normandy and other provincial governors refused to authorize the massacres. Francois Hotman estimates the num
ber killed in the whole of France at 50,000. Catherine de' Medici received the congratulations of all the Catholic powers, and Pope Gregory XIII. commanded bonfires to be lighted and a medal to be struck.
See H. Mariejol, "La Reforme et la Ligue" (1904), in vol. vi. of the Histoire de France, by E. Lavisse, which contains a complete bibli ography of the subject.
Benoit possesses a huge basilica, the only survival of a famous 7th century monastery to which the relics of St. Benedict were brought from Monte Cassino. In the crypt is a modern shrine containing the remains of St. Benedict, which still attract many pilgrims. The establishment was very important during the middle ages, owing partly to its school. In 1562 it was pillaged by the Protestants and, though the buildings were restored by Richelieu, the abbey declined. The basilica (1025-1218) has a narthex of two storeys and two sets of transepts, surmounted by a square central tower.