440 years ago : tSaint-Barthélémy massacres erupted in Angers

One of the differences between Anjou, former part of the Plantagenêt kingdom, and the United Kingdom present along the next Accroche-Coeurs, is religion. While the continental part of the ancient Plantagenêt empire is mainly catholic, on the other bank of the Channel, protestantism is the dominant confession. But that difference was the origin, 440 years ago, of a terrible civil war in France, best known under the title "Saint-Barthélémy massacres". These horrible facts took place in Angers on August 29th 1572.

What triggered the horrible events in Angers is not a public resentment between Angers catholics and protestants but an order given by the Anjou governor, Puygaillard, to his confidence man, Jean de Chambes, Montsoreau baron. That last was "remarkable" for the cruelty he demonstrated in the previous religious wars. The Saint-Barthélémy massacres had just taken place in Paris a few days before. 

So de Chambes arrives in Angers on August 29th. He goes to the homes of the main huguenots of Angers and killed them by his own-hand, with blades or pistols. The rumor about these murders triggers a riot and, as in Paris, scenes of popular rage appear. De Chambes realises events are going out of control and he decides to stop the slaugthers. Finally, simple huguenots, their wives and children will be spared and jailed in the castle. In 1598, Angers will be the place where the Edit de Nantes, granting religious freedom was drawn up. After its reocation, many Huguenots from Western France choose to emigrate.