Surprise Of Meaux
Failed Coup Attempt
CLASSIFICATION: Terrorism
LOCATION
Meaux, France
TIME PERIOD
September 28, 1567
VICTIMS
0 confirmed
On September 28, 1567, a failed coup attempt known as the Surprise of Meaux occurred in Meaux, France, as leading aristocratic Huguenots, including Louis, Prince of Condé and Gaspard II de Coligny, sought to seize King Charles IX. The coup was prompted by fears of extermination following the perceived threat from royalist forces and the mustering of Huguenots. However, the royal court was alerted and managed to escape to Paris, thwarting the coup. The Huguenots subsequently laid siege to the city, marking the beginning of the second French War of Religion. The current status of the case reflects its historical significance, as it established a reputation for sedition among its architects, leading to ongoing conflicts between Huguenots and royalists.
The Huguenots believed that the meeting between Catherine de' Medici and the Duke of Alba was a cover for a secret plan to exterminate all Huguenots in France. This fear of a royal conspiracy fueled the desire for a coup against Charles IX during the Surprise of Meaux. The failed coup attempt solidified the Huguenots' reputation for sedition and mistrust towards the crown.
The Surprise of Meaux: A Failed Huguenot Coup
Setting the Stage
The tumultuous backdrop of 16th-century France was marked by religious strife, a period known as the French Wars of Religion. A significant event during this time was the failed coup attempt by leading aristocratic Huguenots, which precipitated the second French War of Religion. The incident, known as the "Surprise of Meaux," unfolded on September 28, 1567, in Meaux, France.
Prelude to Conspiracy
The first French War of Religion had concluded with the Edict of Amboise in 1563, a fragile peace offering some concessions to the Huguenots. However, suspicion lingered among the leading Huguenot nobles about the crown's true intentions. In 1565, a meeting between Catherine de' Medici, the queen mother, and Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the 3rd Duke of Alba, at Bayonne, was ostensibly about a potential marriage alliance. Huguenots interpreted it as a covert plan for their extermination. Tensions escalated in 1567 when Alba marched north along the Spanish Road to suppress the Dutch Revolt, unsettling both Huguenots and Catholics in France. The French court responded by hiring 6,000 Swiss mercenaries to safeguard the borders, a move the Huguenots viewed with suspicion, fearing a conspiracy against them.
Rising Tensions
In July 1567, the Edict of Pacification was modified, expanding the ban on Protestant worship from Paris to the entire Île-de-France region and prohibiting Protestants from holding office there. This move, intended to suppress rebellion, was perceived by the Huguenots as a prelude to extermination. Tensions boiled over when Louis, Prince of Condé, engaged in a heated argument with King Charles IX and subsequently withdrew from court, followed by Gaspard II de Coligny.
Condé, from his estate, penned a letter to Catherine de' Medici protesting the 'revocation of the Edict' and alleged plots against him. Catherine replied on August 29, 1567, assuring him the troops were for defense against Spain and inviting his return to court.
The Conspiracy Takes Shape
As discontent simmered, news of the arrest of nobles Lamoral, Count of Egmont, and Philip de Montmorency, Count of Horn, by Alba on September 9, exacerbated tensions. Swiss mercenaries crossing into France further fueled fears of an international conspiracy against Protestantism. Two Protestant synods in Châtillon-sur-Loing and Valery debated these developments, deciding on a coup.
A clandestine meeting at Coligny's chateau, attended by the Coligny brothers, Condé, François III de La Rochefoucauld, Charles de Téligny, and Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgomery, among others, debated their course. Coligny advocated caution, but François de Coligny d'Andelot led the war faction. They resolved to raise funds to hire German reiters and assemble a 1,500-strong force to kidnap the king and queen mother at Meaux and target anti-Huguenot court members, especially Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine.
The Plot Unravels
The Huguenot conspiracy, more secretive than the earlier Amboise plot, was on the brink of execution when news of Huguenot troop movements reached the royal court at the Château de Montceaux-en-Brie. A midnight conference was convened, and the Swiss mercenaries, stationed 36 km away at Château-Thierry, were summoned.
Court opinions diverged on whether to fortify Meaux or flee to Paris. Ultimately, the decision was made to head to Paris at 3 am. Caught off guard, Condé pursued with only a fraction of his intended forces. Despite three charges, the Swiss phalanxes repelled them, forcing Condé and Coligny to retreat. The court reached Paris late in the evening, the king exhausted and humiliated.
The Aftermath
While fleeing, Lorraine chose a separate path, escaping on a Spanish horse to Reims. Huguenots pursued, capturing a servant and his baggage, but Lorraine reached safety. Meanwhile, Catherine sent François de Montmorency to negotiate with the Huguenots, but they rejected any parlay.
The failed coup led the Huguenots to besiege Paris, hoping to starve the king before he could muster a full counterattack. Concurrent uprisings in cities like Nîmes, Montpellier, Orléans, Valence, Auxerre, and Mâcon aided their cause. Despite initial successes, Paris was reinforced, and a pyrrhic victory at Saint-Denis in November forced the Huguenots to retreat and regroup.
In early 1568, they returned with renewed strength, laying siege to Chartres. Peace was eventually restored with a reaffirmation of the Edict of Amboise.
A Legacy of Distrust
The failed coup left an indelible mark on Huguenot reputation, linking them with sedition. This perception was exploited in 1572, leading to the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, where false rumors of another Huguenot plot incited violence. The memory of the failed coup likely influenced King Charles IX's decision to order the assassination of Gaspard de Coligny and other Huguenot leaders during the massacre.
Sources
For further reading, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Surprise of Meaux.
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Failed Coup Attempt
Huguenots led by Louis de Condé and Gaspard de Coligny attempt to seize King Charles IX in Meaux.
Alba's Arrest of Nobles
Alba arrests nobles Egmont and Horn, escalating tensions among Huguenots.
Huguenot Synods Meet
Protestant synods gather to discuss a coup after news of Alba's actions.
Nobles Assemble for Conspiracy
Huguenot nobles meet at Coligny's chateau to plan the coup against the king.
Conspiracy Revealed
Royal court learns of Huguenot troop movements, prompting a hasty retreat to Paris.
Royal Court Flees
King Charles IX and court flee to Paris to escape Huguenot forces.
Siege of Paris Begins
Huguenots besiege Paris after the failed coup, aiming to starve the king.
Peace Negotiations
Peace is negotiated, reaffirming the Edict of Amboise after the siege.
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Catholic partisans launch a massacre against Huguenots, fueled by past coup fears.
On September 28, 1567, a failed coup attempt known as the Surprise of Meaux occurred in Meaux, France, as leading aristocratic Huguenots, including Louis, Prince of Condé and Gaspard II de Coligny, sought to seize King Charles IX. The coup was prompted by fears of extermination following the perceived threat from royalist forces and the mustering of Huguenots. However, the royal court was alerted and managed to escape to Paris, thwarting the coup. The Huguenots subsequently laid siege to the city, marking the beginning of the second French War of Religion. The current status of the case reflects its historical significance, as it established a reputation for sedition among its architects, leading to ongoing conflicts between Huguenots and royalists.
The Huguenots believed that the meeting between Catherine de' Medici and the Duke of Alba was a cover for a secret plan to exterminate all Huguenots in France. This fear of a royal conspiracy fueled the desire for a coup against Charles IX during the Surprise of Meaux. The failed coup attempt solidified the Huguenots' reputation for sedition and mistrust towards the crown.
The Surprise of Meaux: A Failed Huguenot Coup
Setting the Stage
The tumultuous backdrop of 16th-century France was marked by religious strife, a period known as the French Wars of Religion. A significant event during this time was the failed coup attempt by leading aristocratic Huguenots, which precipitated the second French War of Religion. The incident, known as the "Surprise of Meaux," unfolded on September 28, 1567, in Meaux, France.
Prelude to Conspiracy
The first French War of Religion had concluded with the Edict of Amboise in 1563, a fragile peace offering some concessions to the Huguenots. However, suspicion lingered among the leading Huguenot nobles about the crown's true intentions. In 1565, a meeting between Catherine de' Medici, the queen mother, and Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the 3rd Duke of Alba, at Bayonne, was ostensibly about a potential marriage alliance. Huguenots interpreted it as a covert plan for their extermination. Tensions escalated in 1567 when Alba marched north along the Spanish Road to suppress the Dutch Revolt, unsettling both Huguenots and Catholics in France. The French court responded by hiring 6,000 Swiss mercenaries to safeguard the borders, a move the Huguenots viewed with suspicion, fearing a conspiracy against them.
Rising Tensions
In July 1567, the Edict of Pacification was modified, expanding the ban on Protestant worship from Paris to the entire Île-de-France region and prohibiting Protestants from holding office there. This move, intended to suppress rebellion, was perceived by the Huguenots as a prelude to extermination. Tensions boiled over when Louis, Prince of Condé, engaged in a heated argument with King Charles IX and subsequently withdrew from court, followed by Gaspard II de Coligny.
Condé, from his estate, penned a letter to Catherine de' Medici protesting the 'revocation of the Edict' and alleged plots against him. Catherine replied on August 29, 1567, assuring him the troops were for defense against Spain and inviting his return to court.
The Conspiracy Takes Shape
As discontent simmered, news of the arrest of nobles Lamoral, Count of Egmont, and Philip de Montmorency, Count of Horn, by Alba on September 9, exacerbated tensions. Swiss mercenaries crossing into France further fueled fears of an international conspiracy against Protestantism. Two Protestant synods in Châtillon-sur-Loing and Valery debated these developments, deciding on a coup.
A clandestine meeting at Coligny's chateau, attended by the Coligny brothers, Condé, François III de La Rochefoucauld, Charles de Téligny, and Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgomery, among others, debated their course. Coligny advocated caution, but François de Coligny d'Andelot led the war faction. They resolved to raise funds to hire German reiters and assemble a 1,500-strong force to kidnap the king and queen mother at Meaux and target anti-Huguenot court members, especially Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine.
The Plot Unravels
The Huguenot conspiracy, more secretive than the earlier Amboise plot, was on the brink of execution when news of Huguenot troop movements reached the royal court at the Château de Montceaux-en-Brie. A midnight conference was convened, and the Swiss mercenaries, stationed 36 km away at Château-Thierry, were summoned.
Court opinions diverged on whether to fortify Meaux or flee to Paris. Ultimately, the decision was made to head to Paris at 3 am. Caught off guard, Condé pursued with only a fraction of his intended forces. Despite three charges, the Swiss phalanxes repelled them, forcing Condé and Coligny to retreat. The court reached Paris late in the evening, the king exhausted and humiliated.
The Aftermath
While fleeing, Lorraine chose a separate path, escaping on a Spanish horse to Reims. Huguenots pursued, capturing a servant and his baggage, but Lorraine reached safety. Meanwhile, Catherine sent François de Montmorency to negotiate with the Huguenots, but they rejected any parlay.
The failed coup led the Huguenots to besiege Paris, hoping to starve the king before he could muster a full counterattack. Concurrent uprisings in cities like Nîmes, Montpellier, Orléans, Valence, Auxerre, and Mâcon aided their cause. Despite initial successes, Paris was reinforced, and a pyrrhic victory at Saint-Denis in November forced the Huguenots to retreat and regroup.
In early 1568, they returned with renewed strength, laying siege to Chartres. Peace was eventually restored with a reaffirmation of the Edict of Amboise.
A Legacy of Distrust
The failed coup left an indelible mark on Huguenot reputation, linking them with sedition. This perception was exploited in 1572, leading to the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, where false rumors of another Huguenot plot incited violence. The memory of the failed coup likely influenced King Charles IX's decision to order the assassination of Gaspard de Coligny and other Huguenot leaders during the massacre.
Sources
For further reading, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Surprise of Meaux.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Failed Coup Attempt
Huguenots led by Louis de Condé and Gaspard de Coligny attempt to seize King Charles IX in Meaux.
Alba's Arrest of Nobles
Alba arrests nobles Egmont and Horn, escalating tensions among Huguenots.
Huguenot Synods Meet
Protestant synods gather to discuss a coup after news of Alba's actions.
Nobles Assemble for Conspiracy
Huguenot nobles meet at Coligny's chateau to plan the coup against the king.
Conspiracy Revealed
Royal court learns of Huguenot troop movements, prompting a hasty retreat to Paris.
Royal Court Flees
King Charles IX and court flee to Paris to escape Huguenot forces.
Siege of Paris Begins
Huguenots besiege Paris after the failed coup, aiming to starve the king.
Peace Negotiations
Peace is negotiated, reaffirming the Edict of Amboise after the siege.
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Catholic partisans launch a massacre against Huguenots, fueled by past coup fears.