Conspiracy of Amboise

The conspiracy or tumult of Amboise (March 1560) is a takeover by force missed by the Protestants to seize the person the king, François II and to withdraw it from supervision Guise. It is about the first episode strapping and tragedy of the wars of religion, which are held in France of 1562 with 1598.

Context

Since the accidental death of the king Henri II in 1559, the Protestants are more than ever trustful in their future and hope to obtain their emancipation finally. They await new king, the young person François II, a reversal in their favor. However the king entrusted the government to the Own way, guarantors in France of the Catholic religion, and in favor of a policy of tolerance zero with respect to the reformed religion. The duke François de Guise and Charles, cardinal of Lorraine, maternal uncles of the young queen Marie Stuart, exert ascending on the king via this one. They direct the essence of the royal policy and are convinced to have the right to repress the Protestantism in the name of the king and of the respect of the order. Several Protestants consequently wish to withdraw the king from their influence and organize a plot to remove the king and his family of which the queen-mother, Catherine de Médicis.

Preparation of the plot

The chief of the conspiracy is Godefroy de Barry, lord of Renaudie, gentleman of Périgord. He brings together other gentlemen from all France like the Baron Charles de Castelnau de Chalosse, Bouchard d' Aubeterre, Edme of Tool bag-Maligny, the captain Mazères, the captain Sainte-Marie, the Lignières captain, Jean d' Aubigné (father of Agrippa of Aubigné), Ardoin de Porcelet. Paulon de Mauvans (of which the brother was carried out) rejoins the huguenots of Provence with Mérindol, on February 12th, 1560, promises 2000 men and sends 100 of them to Nantes. Are also accessory to the merchants of the towns of Orleans, Tours and Lyon.

The plot is directed by the prince Louis de Bourbon-Cop, who waits Orleans to collect the fruits of the complot ; it is indicated by the term of dumb captain in the mails of entreated. The admiral of Coligny, new chief of the huguenots, refuses this way of violence, and prevents that part of the Protestant nobility of Normandy joins the plot.

The failure of the conspiracy

The 1560, entreated met in Nantes to decide on a plan. A few days later, the February 12th, the Own way are informed by a Parisian lawyer, Pierre of Avenelle. The February 22nd, they decide to transfer François II and the court, of the castle of Blois to that of Amboise, protected well better. The guards are changed and reinforced defenses. The Own way expect all.

Entreated, which had envisaged their action for on March 1st 1560 give it to the March 16th. Thanks to complicities on the spot, some entreated arrived in advance were to prepare the arrival of large Protestant troops. But the Own way launch their knights to excavate the neighborhoods of Amboise, and the entreated first are stopped on March 10th. Until the March 16th, the arrests multiply. Starting from the March 17th begin the executions: the majority of entreated are hung with the balustrades of the castle, the others are thrown to the Loire or are massacred by crowd. The March 19th, Godefroi, lord of Renaudie is captured. It is quartered and the parts of its body are exposed to the doors of the city. The prince of Condé is put in arrest but it will be delivered a few weeks later. Repression makes 1200 to 1500 dead.

The kings of France really any more do not remain in Amboise then. The children of France however continue to be high there.

During the summer 1560, the prince of Condé prepares one second conspiracy but it does not take place because of new arrest of the prince.

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