Karl IX

(1550-1574)
The second son of Henry II and Catherine de 'Medici, was born June 27, 1550 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Charles inherited the throne after the death of his elder brother Francis II December 5, 1560, but because of his childhood as regent until August 17, 1563 was the mother, is stored on its subsequent dramatic effect. June 27, 1570 Charles married the daughter of Emperor Maximilian II to Elizabeth of Austria, their marriage was childless. Of Charles had for a period of religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots in France. After the failure of the Catholic party, Karl tried to achieve reconciliation (Saint-Germain world 1570) and even made friends with Protestants, making the closest adviser to the leader of the Huguenots of Count Coligny. This caused resentment of Catholics, including the mother of Charles, who insisted on the massacre of the Huguenots in Paris at St Bartholomew's Day, from 23 to 24 August 1572, at which Charles reluctantly agreed. A great lover of hunting, Charles wrote a poetic treatise on the royal hunt (Trait de la chasse royale), published in 1625. Charles died at Vincennes May 30, 1574.