“The Chronicle of the reign of Charles IX” Merimee in brief summary


1572 In France – in the midst of religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots. There is a fierce struggle for power, in which the interests of the three main parties – Protestants or Huguenots, the royal party, the weakest of the three, and the party of the ultra-royalists of the Dukes of Gizov, collide. King Charles IX, following the principle of Louis XI “divide and conquer,” diligently incites enmity between extreme parties. It is involuntarily drawn into a large part of the nation. Passions are heated, skirmishes on religious grounds are constantly happening on the streets, in taverns, private houses, at the court.

A young man from a wealthy noble family – his name is Bernard de Mergie – travels to Paris to serve under Admiral Coligny. He also hopes that he will be introduced to the court. His brother George lives in Paris. Bernard, like his father, is a convinced Protestant, and George considers the family an apostate, since he converted

to Catholicism. On the way, Bernard, because of his frivolity, loses his horse and all the money. But the first whom he meets is his brother George, whom he once loved passionately and who, even after his apostasy, can not be considered an enemy. Georges and his friends invite Bernard to dine. At that moment a stranger in a mask is passing by on a mule. Georges informs his brother that this is Countess Diana de Turgi, one of the most beautiful ladies at court. Her blue eyes, beautiful black hair and snow-white skin impress the imagination of the young provincial. Georges leads Bernard home and tells him that the reason for his apostasy was the unworthy behavior of Prince Conde, who cruelly humiliated him. In general, he does not believe in anything, and the Bible replaces Rabelais. It’s just that Catholicism is more convenient for him, because observing external rituals, one can not invest the soul in religion. Admiral Coligny Bernard is favorably received thanks to his father’s letter of recommendation, as well as his courage shown himself-he does not hesitate to print the message he brought to the admiral,
which the surrounding people consider poisoned, because it comes from the Gizs, known for their cunning and hatred of Coligny. It’s just that Catholicism is more convenient for him, because observing external rituals, one can not invest the soul in religion. Admiral Coligny Bernard is favorably received thanks to his father’s letter of recommendation, as well as his courage shown himself-he does not hesitate to print the message he brought to the admiral, which the surrounding people consider poisoned, because it comes from the Gizs, known for their cunning and hatred of Coligny. It’s just that Catholicism is more convenient for him, because observing external rituals, one can not invest the soul in religion. Admiral Coligny Bernard is favorably received thanks to his father’s letter of recommendation, as well as his courage shown himself-he does not hesitate to print the message he brought to the admiral, which the surrounding people consider poisoned, because it comes from the Gizs, known for their cunning and hatred of Coligny.

Bernard becomes the cornet of the admiral. The brothers go to the royal hunt, where George intends to present Bernard to the court. Collection is appointed in the Madrid Castle. In the center of attention of courtiers is the beautiful Diana de Tigi. Passing Bernard, she drops her glove. Roughly pushing Bernard, it lifts the arrogant admirer of Diane Comminges. Bernard explains that he should cause the offender to duel, which he does. During the hunt, Diana remains alone with Bernard and gives him a miraculous carousal. In the duel, the incense helps Bernou life – a deadly rapier slides on it and only slightly touches the young man. He kills Komenzha with a blow from the Toledo dagger. The injured Bernard is placed in a secluded house, where he is cared for by a healer, who knows a lot about white magic. One night, the recovering Bernard accidentally sees the scene of witchcraft – Diana and the sorceress conjure secret powers to heal Bernard and bewitch him to Diana. However, the young man is already passionately in love. He faces severe punishment for killing in a duel. Georges tries to obtain a pardon for Bernard, but Admiral Coligny, to whom he applies for intercession before the king, sharply and demeaningly denies him. Georges is furious, but he does not let his feelings go. Bernard pardoned the king at the request of the Queen, or rather – Diana de Tigi. Georges is furious, but he does not let his feelings go. Bernard pardoned the king at the request of the Queen, or rather – Diana de Tigi. Georges is furious, but he does not let his feelings go. Bernard pardoned the king at the request of the Queen, or rather – Diana de Tigi.

After the duel, Bernard is noticed at court. He is given signs of attention and slightly jokes about his provincial naivety. Diana gives Bernank the key and appoints a date. The king invites Georges to an audience. He shows Georges the arquebus and accidentally invites him to take revenge on Admiral Coligny for insult, killing him with a shot in the back. Georges resolutely refuses. The king orders him after a while to bring to Paris a light-weight detachment, which he commands. Returning home, George warns the admiral of the danger of an anonymous note, but Coligny leaves her unattended. On August 22, he was wounded by a shot from the arquebus by Morvel, who was nicknamed “the killer in the service of the king” for this. In Paris clouds gather, but the enamored Bernard does not notice anything around. Every night Bernard and Diana meet in a secluded house. Diana does not abandon the hope to convert her beloved to her faith, but she does not succeed. After the shot at Coligny, there are skirmishes between young Protestant nobles and Catholics. The stunned crowd of townspeople attacks Bernard, and he only miraculously escapes death.

In the evening of August 24, on the orders of the King, Georges led his detachment to Paris. Nearing one of the most terrible pages in the history of France – Bartholomew’s Night. Everything is ready for the action, which is known only to a narrow circle of initiates: loyal troops loyal to the king are armed, militiamen are armed, they are marked by white crosses of the Huguenot house. Morvel brings Georges an order, together with his detachment and militiamen, to destroy Protestants at night – the enemies of the king. Georges indignantly refuses, tears off insignia and leaves the soldiers, embarrassed by the commander’s act, but overpowers the desire to plunder the Huguenots’ houses.

Bernard goes on a date to Diana. On the way, he meets a Catholic friend who insistently advises him to leave the city hastily. Diana begs Bernard to change his faith, otherwise he will perish like his supporters. The city is already burning fires and the roar of a frenzied crowd is heard. Bernard is adamant. He is ready to die, but he can not change himself. In the end, Diana says with desperation that this is how she loves him even more. Appears Georges. He brings to the house of Diana the child whom the dying mother extended to him. Diana promises to take care of him.

The massacre lasts night, day and a few more days, from Paris it goes to the province. Murderers revel in the blood of dissidents, and Protestants, many of whom displayed the wonders of courage in the war, resigned without resentment without resistance. Karl IX himself “shoots at game” from his beloved long arquebus. Georges is imprisoned for disobeying the king. Bernard waits a few days in the house of Diana, and then goes to the fortress of La Rochelle, the most enduring Huguenots stronghold in the south of France. Together with the determined residents of the city and the same as he, the fugitives, he is going to sell his life dearly in case of siege of the fortress. The King tries to persuade the rebellious city to peace and sends Admiral Coligny’s friend the brave Protestant Lanu to the warrior. He heads the defense of the city to arouse the confidence of the people of La Rochelle, and is caught between two fires. Bernard becomes his adjutant and does not spare himself in risky sorties against the Catholics who besieged the city. One of the sorties is fatal for him. With a group of soldiers, he arranges an ambush for a detachment of Catholics. When he orders the soldiers to shoot, the leader of the detachment is killed by two bullets. Bernard finds out in him Georges. Georges dies in La Rochelle. The Protestant priest and Catholic monk dispute the right of the last communion, but Georges refuses him. Before his death, he utters bitter words: “I’m not the first Frenchman who was killed by a brother… I believe that it is not the last one.” And then, to console Bernard: “Madame de Tijri asked to convey that she loves you as before.” Bernard is inconsolable. After a while, Lana leaves La Rochelle, the royal army removes the siege, signs the world, and soon dies Charles IX.


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“The Chronicle of the reign of Charles IX” Merimee in brief summary