Massacre of Vassy

The Massacre of Vassy occurred in 1562 in France, when religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) intensified. The French Duke of Guise’s troops opened fire on a group of unarmed Protestant worshippers, killing many. This brutal event marked the beginning of the French Wars of Religion, a series of conflict over religious beliefs and rights. It highlighted the deep divisions within French society at the time and led to a prolonged period of violence and political struggle between those supporting Catholicism and those advocating for Protestantism.