Home ⇒ 📌Brief contents ⇒ Summary The chronicle of the reign of Charles IX

Summary The chronicle of the reign of Charles IX


Prosper Merimee
The chronicle of the reign of Charles IX of
1572. In France religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots are in full swing. There is a fierce struggle for power in which the interests of the three main parties – Protestants or Huguenots – are colliding (after the death of Prince Conde, the valiant Admiral Gaspard de Coligny is headed), the royal party, the weakest of the three, and the party of the ultra-royalists of the Dukes of Gizov. 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.


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Related posts:

  1. “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 […]...

  2. Summary of “Queen Margot” Dumas 1570, the time of civil wars in France. The leaders of the warring parties also died. There is a peace in Saint-Germain, and to secure the princess Margaret must marry Henry of Navarre, which outrages both countries. King Henry of Navarre explains that their marriage is political and, despite their feelings for others, they must […]...

  3. The reign of Philip IV the Beautiful The royal power was strengthened under Philip IV the Beautiful. He sought to expand his domain. The first marriage of Philip IV was married to Jeanne, the Queen of Navarre and the Countess de Champagne, thus joining these territories to France. The main purpose of Philip was to capture Geei and Gascony, still owned by […]...

  4. “Travnitskaya Chronicle” by Andrich in brief 1807 year. Residents of a small Bosnian town of Travnik, located on the outskirts of the Turkish empire, are concerned that soon in their city, to which only the obscure echoes of world events were previously heard, two consulates will open – first French and then Austrian, as it became known that Bonaparte already enlisted […]...

  5. Summary Charles Gounod CHARLES GUONE 1818-1893 Gounod is an outstanding French composer, who made a significant contribution to the development of national traditions of democratic art. In his best operas, he strove for a true transfer of the life drama of ordinary people, to a colorful sketch of real life. These features of the plot and the means […]...

  6. Family chronicle ST Aksakov Family chronicle In the 60’s. XVIII century. Stepan Mikhailovich Bagrov, the grandfather of the narrator (it’s easy to guess that Aksakov talks about his own grandfather), “he began to live closely” in the different Simbirsk “step-father.” Stepan Mikhailovich was not educated, but “his natural mind was healthy and bright”, he is certainly just […]...

  7. “Family Chronicle” Aksakov in brief In the 60’s. XVIII century. Stepan Mikhailovich Bagrov, the grandfather of the narrator, “began to live closely” in the different Simbirsk “step-father.” Stepan Mikhailovich was not educated, but “his natural mind was healthy and bright”, he is certainly just and an excellent master: the peasants loved him. In the Ufa viceroyalty, many for a pittance, […]...

  8. The reign of Emperor Justinian. “Golden age” The heyday of Byzantium fell during the reign of Emperor Justinian. Justinian was an enlightened, intelligent, strong-willed and at the same time cruel, insidious, unlimited ambitious and power-hungry. He married the charming Theodore – a former circus actress. The best pair was not found! Theodora did not deny herself anything, she bathed in luxury, was […]...

  9. A summary of the “Roads of Flanders” For the first time with the heroes of the novel, the author introduces us on the eve of how they retreat as part of the French troops fighting the fascist conquerors in Flanders, are captured and sent to a concentration camp for prisoners of war in Germany. The main characters of the narrative are a […]...

  10. Summary Charles Gounod. Faust FAUST Opera in five acts1 Libretto by J. Barbier and M. Carré Characters: Doctor Faust Mephistopheles Margarita Valentine Siebel Wagner Marta, a neighbor of Margarita Tenor Bass Soprano Baritone Mezzo soprano Bass Mezzo soprano Students, soldiers, townspeople, girls, women, spirits, etc. The action takes place in Germany in the Middle Ages. HISTORY OF CREATION Opera […]...

  11. “Roads of Flanders” Simon in brief summary For the first time with the heroes of the novel, the author introduces us on the eve of how they retreat as part of the French troops fighting the fascist conquerors in Flanders, are captured and sent to a concentration camp for prisoners of war in Germany. The main characters of the narrative are a […]...

  12. Summary Cold House by Charles Dickens Charles Dickens Cold House Childhood Esther Summerston takes place in Windsor, in her godmother’s house, Miss Barberi. The girl feels lonely and often sentences, addressing her best friend, a ruddy doll: “You know perfectly well, doll, that I’m stupid, so be kind, do not be angry with me.” Esther seeks to learn the secret of […]...

  13. Summary Dombey and son Charles Dickens Charles Dickens Dombey and Son The action takes place in the middle of the XIX century. In one of the ordinary London nights in the life of Mr. Dombey, the greatest event is happening – his son is born. Henceforth his firm (one of the largest in the City!), In whose management he sees the […]...

  14. Charles Dickens Great Expectations Charles Dickens Big Hope In the neighborhood of Rochester, an ancient town southeast of London, lived a seven-year-old boy, nicknamed Pip. He was left without parents, and his “own hands” was brought up by an older sister who “had a rare ability to turn purity into something more uncomfortable and unpleasant than any dirt.” With […]...

  15. Biography of Charles Babbage Charles Babbage is considered the progenitor of modern computers. Childhood and youth Charles was one of four children from Benjamin Babbage and Batsy Plumley. His father was a banker and partner of the firm “Praed’s & Co”, as well as the owner of “Bitton Estate” in Tinmouth. At the age of eight, he was sent […]...

  16. “The History of Sir Charles Grandison” Richardson in brief The work is preceded by the preface of the publisher, reminiscent of the heroes of previously published novels. “Pamela” – a certificate of the benefits of virtue; “Clarissa” is an instruction to those parents who by unreasonable coercion produce evil. Finally, “Grandison” is “the deeds of the elegant soul”, unswervingly following the firm moral rules […]...

  17. “Queen Margot” by A. Dumas in brief summary 1570, the era of civil wars in France, the bloody clashes of Catholics and Huguenots. In the previous ten years, the leaders of the warring parties perished. In Saint Germain there is a world for which the sister of King Charles IX Princess Margaret is married to Henry of Navarre. This marriage is equally amazing […]...

  18. Biography of Charles Augustine de Coulomb Charles Augustin de Coulomb is a physicist, whose name is the law of interaction of electric projectiles. Childhood and youth Charles Augustin de Coulon was born into a well-to-do family in Angouleme, France. His father, Henri Coulomb, came from a well-known family of lawyers, and his mother, Catherine Bage, was a representative of a noble […]...

  19. Brief History of Sir Charles Grandison S. Richardson The story of Sir Charles Grandison The work is preceded by the foreword of the publisher (as Richardson calls himself), reminiscent of the heroes of previously published novels. “Pamela” – a certificate of the benefits of virtue; “Clarissa” is an instruction to those parents who by unreasonable coercion produce evil. Finally, “Grandison” is […]...

  20. Summary Queen Margo Alexander Dumas Alexander Dumas Queen Margot 1570, the era of civil wars in France, the bloody clashes of Catholics and Huguenots. In the previous ten years, the leaders of the warring parties perished. In Saint Germain there is a world for which the sister of King Charles IX Princess Margaret is married to Henry of Navarre. This […]...

  21. “Dear friend” Maupassant in summary Georges Duroy, the son of the well-to-do peasants, the keepers of the vegetable marrow, is endowed with a happy appearance on the whim of nature. He is slender, tall, blond, he has a wonderful mustache… He really likes women, and he is in Paris. But he has three francs in his pocket, and his salary […]...

  22. Summary “Dear friend” Maupassant Georges Duroy, the son of the well-to-do peasants, the keepers of the vegetable marrow, is endowed with a happy appearance on the whim of nature. He is slender, tall, blond, he has a wonderful mustache… He really likes women, and he is in Paris. But he has three francs in his pocket, and his salary […]...

  23. Summary of Georges Bizet GEORGE BIZE 1838-1875 Bizet is a great realist artist. His cheerful, colorful and temperamental music is distinguished by melodic richness and dramatic expressiveness. The national-democratic aspirations of the French composers of the 19th century were half a mile in Bizet’s work, their most complete and vivid embodiment. Georges Bizet was born in Paris on October […]...

  24. “Counterfeiters” Zhida in brief summary The scene is Paris and the Swiss village of Saas-Fee. Time is deliberately not specified. In the center of the narrative are three families – Profitandie, Molyneux and Aziza-Wedeli. They are closely associated with the old music teacher Lalerus, as well as two writers – Count Robert de Passavan and Edward. The latter keeps a […]...

  25. “Holy Week” of Aragon in brief summary The action takes place from 19 to 26 March 1815 in France, during the last before Easter of the week, in the Catholic calendar called passionate. The novel is based on historical events connected with the return of Napoleon Bonaparte to Paris, who fled from the island of Elba, where he was in exile. The […]...

  26. Charles Dickens. Biography Charles Dickens – the largest English novelist, the author of socio-psychological novels, recreating the way of life, customs and views of the British era of early Victorianism, as well as features of the national character and world perception. A sharp criticism of the shortcomings of a society built on social inequality and the cult of […]...

  27. Summary Counterfeiters André Gide André Gidee Counterfeiters The scene of action is Paris and the Swiss village of Saas-Fee. Time is deliberately not specified. In the center of the narrative are three families – Profitandie, Molyneux and Aziza-Wedeli. They are closely associated with the old music teacher Lalerus, as well as two writers – Count Robert de Passavan and […]...

  28. Executive Summary Holy Week Louis Aragon Holy Week The action takes place from 19 to 26 March 1815 in France, during the last before Easter of the week, in the Catholic calendar called passionate. The novel is based on historical events connected with the return of Napoleon Bonaparte to Paris, who fled from the island of Elba, where he […]...

  29. The art world of Charles Dickens Dickens the artist had a rich imagination. This amazing power of imagination and knowledge of the unsightly aspects of the life of Victorian England helped the writer create a multi-faceted and multicolored art world populated by countless comic, dramatic and tragic characters. Dickens’s novels, oversaturated with everyday life, customs, people of different classes, detailed details […]...

  30. A Brief History of the History of Vasilii Koriotsky Basil the Coriot, being the son of an impoverished nobleman, asks his father to let him go to the service so that he can help the family by sending part of his salary to his parents. The young man begins his career in St. Petersburg, settling down as a simple sailor. For hard work, diligence […]...

  31. Biography of George Foreman George Foreman – a boxer, was born on January 10, 1949 in the city of Marshall, Texas. Best known as the 46-year-old champion in the heavyweight category. When George Foreman defeated Joe Frazer, the boxer was young, thin and very aggressive. In this battle in 1973, Foreman won the title of heavyweight champion. The following […]...

  32. Life and work of Charles Baudelaire … Baudelaire, I’m thinking about you. P. Antokolsky For many generations of readers, the French poet Charles Baudelaire remains a lonely dreamer, a romantic ghost in the streets of the world city, waiting in the night for a mysterious beauty wandering the shadow. Baudelaire is the forerunner of a whole trend in literature and art, […]...

  33. The negative characters in the novel by Charles D. Dickens “David Copperfield” Many events in the novel “David Copperfield” echo the events in the life of the writer himself. It is a novel-recollection, where the first impressions and judgments of a child are carefully delivered to us by an adult, a writer who managed to keep in his soul the purity of the child’s perception. The first […]...

  34. Genre of the novel “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens In the history of the formation and development of English realism, Charles Dickens’s novel “David Copperfield” occupies a special place. Along with such famous works of the writer as “Cold House” and “Little Dorrit”, this novel marks a qualitatively new stage in his work, characterized by a deeper penetration of Charles Dickens into the psychology […]...

  35. Summary The young years of King Henry IV Henry Mann Young years of King Henry IV Part I. The Pyrenees of the Boy called Henry. The mother instructed Henry to take care of the relative and the educator, so that the son would grow up, as the children grow up among the people. He lived in the castle of Coarraz, and the area […]...

  36. The theme of education in the novel by Charles D. Dickens “David Copperfield” I understood very well that I had Such tests, of which they are not They can have no idea. C. Dickens The novel by Charles D. Dickens “David Copperfield” by genre is close to the so-called “novel of education”, which usually tells about the life of the hero from infancy to maturity. Before us is […]...

  37. Questions and answers to the novel by Charles Dickens “The Life of David Copperfield, told by himself” What is the main theme of the novel? “David Copperfield” is a novel about the formation of personality, about the fate of a young man entering life. Can we call Dickens’s novel an autobiographical work? The novel is written in the first person, and on its pages many events from the author’s life were reflected, […]...

  38. “The young years of King Henry IV” Mann in brief summary XVI century. Henry, a boy from a noble French family who grew up in a provincial Bearna, after passing through the dangers of the St. Bartholomew’s night, trials and intrigue, becomes King of France Henry IV. Part I. Pyrenees The boy’s name was Heinrich. The mother instructed Henry to take care of the relative and […]...

  39. Summary “Demetrius the Pretender” Severely ruled Demetrius from the very moment he sat on the throne: he executed many people, imprisoned the boyars, left the country without a penny. But the limit of his cunning reached when, in 1606, he decided to convert all the Orthodox into the Catholic faith, and even give the lands of the Russians to […]...

  40. Symbols of the novel “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens In “David Copperfield,” Charles Dickens continues to develop the theme of “high hopes.” It is this theme that defines in the novel its symbolism. Two symbols – “the road of life” and “the river, the stream”, are cross-cutting in the narrative of the writer, and both “paths” lead to the sea. Dickens gives these images-symbols […]...

Summary The chronicle of the reign of Charles IX
«
»