What were the causes and consequences of the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572) on the French Wars of Religion?

The Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre was a significant event that occurred on August 24, 1572, in Paris, France, and was a turning point in the French Wars of Religion. The conflict was between the Catholic majority and the Protestant minority, known as the Huguenots. The Huguenots were gaining political power and this worried the Catholic leaders, who sought to suppress them. The Massacre began after a failed attempt to assassinate the Huguenot leader, Admiral Gaspard de Coligny. In retaliation, the Catholics, led by Catherine de' Medici, ordered the massacre of the Huguenots.

The massacre lasted for three days and spread throughout France, with an estimated death toll of between 5,000 and 30,000 Huguenots. The massacre triggered a wave of violence and counter-violence, and the country was plunged into chaos. The massacre led to the dissolution of the fragile peace between the two sides and a resumption of hostilities. The French Wars of Religion continued for another 15 years, with the Huguenots ultimately defeated.

The Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre also had significant consequences outside France. It worsened relations between France and other Protestant countries, such as England and the Netherlands, and led to increased support for the Protestant cause. It also brought attention to the persecution of Huguenots in France, leading many to flee the country. The massacre is considered a tragic event in French history and a symbol of religious intolerance and persecution.