Gaspard de Coligny

Gaspard de Coligny (died 24 August 1572) was an Admiral of France and a Huguenot. He supported France joining the Dutch in their war with Spain, and spoke out against Catholic attacks on Huguenots.

Catherine de Medici, believing that his influence on her son King Charles IX of France was too great, led a conspiracy to have him assassinated on 22 August 1572. He was wounded in the attempt and was killed two days later during the St Bartholomew's Day massacre. (TV: The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve)