Henri II House (11 rue des Augustins)
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Henri II House - La Rochelle © Wikimedia Commons
The house was built for Hugues Pontard, Lord of Champdeniers, the king’s attorney in Saintonge. He died in 1564. His son François Pontard, mayor in from 1567 to 1568, lived there and decided independently to call upon Louis de Condé, and to attach the city, which had so far remained neutral, to the Protestant party.
At the end of the street stood the Augustinian monastery, deserted by the monks in 1562 and then used by the Protestants for worship. The 1571 a synod was held in the monk’s refectory. It was presided over by Théodore de Bèze, who ratified the text of the Confession of faith composed by the 1559 synod in Paris. The second marriage of Gaspard de Coligny with Jacqueline de Montbel d’Entremont, princess of Savoie, as well as the marriage of the admiral’s daughter with Charles de Téligny (1535-1572), were both celebrated there in 1571. In 1584 Jean Guiton, the famous mayor during the Grand Siege, was baptised there.
Associated tours
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A walk through Protestant La Rochelle
As early as 1546, La Rochelle was one of the major cities in the kingdom won over to the Reformation. La Rochelle had been an economic and maritime power since...
Associated notes
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Louis de Condé (1530-1569)
Louis de Condé descended from Louis IX (Saint Louis) was the Protestant leader during the first three Wars of Religion, until the battle in Jarnac where he was wounded and... -
Fourth war of Religion and Saint Bartholomew (1572-1573)
8 August 1570: Edict of Saint-Germain Spring 1572: escalation of repression in the Netherlands Gaspard de Coligny returned to the Court 18 August 1572: Wedding of Henri de Navarre with... -
The house of Jean Guiton (3 rue des Merciers)
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Gaspard de Coligny (1519-1572)
Gaspard de Coligny born in the influential Châtillon family, was naturally at the service of the King of France. However, after being made prisoner at the siege of Saint Quentin,... -
Théodore de Bèze (1519-1605)
Theodore Beza was one of the most prominent figures in the Reform movement. He supported Calvin and succeeded him as moderator, i.e. president, of the Company of pastors in Geneva....