Charles IX de Valoris King of FRANCE

                   CHARLES IX (born 1550, ruled 1560-74) came to the throne in the midstof
the Reformation and the fierce civil wars between the Roman Catholicsand
the Huguenots (Protestants). The crimes that mar the history of hisreign
were largely the work of his ambitious mother, Catherine, of thefamous
Medici family (see Medici ).
Charles was only 10 years old when he became king, and Catherineclaimed
the right to rule for him. Even when he reached manhoodhe was weak and
hesitant, and she continued to dominate him. In her desire tobringabout
the death of Gaspard de Coligny, the Huguenot leader, she goadedherson
into giving orders that led to the Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Dayin
1572, when thousands of Huguenots, including Coligny, were killed (see
Coligny ). This crime disturbed Charles, and he became melancholy. He
died two years later of a fever.