Jacques Clément facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacques Clément
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Jacques Clément assassinating Henry III
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| Born | 1567 Serbonnes, France
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| Died | 1 August 1589 (aged c. 22) Saint-Cloud, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Known for | Assassinating Henry III of France |
Jacques Clément (1567 – 1 August 1589) was a French friar who became known for assassinating King Henry III. He was born in Serbonnes, a town in Burgundy, France. Later, he joined the Dominican Order, becoming a lay brother.
Who Was Jacques Clément?
During the French Wars of Religion, Jacques Clément became very religious. He strongly supported the Catholic League. This group was against Protestantism, which they saw as a wrong belief. Clément believed that Huguenots, who were French Protestants, should be stopped.
He decided to plan the assassination of King Henry III. This was because the King was seen as responsible for the death of the Duke of Guise, a leader of the Catholic League. Some leaders of the League, like Catherine de Guise, encouraged Clément. They promised him rewards in this life and a good afterlife if he succeeded.
The Assassination Plot
Clément got letters that would allow him to see the King. He left Paris on July 31, 1589. The next day, August 1, 1589, he arrived at Saint-Cloud. This was where King Henry III had his headquarters while his army was surrounding Paris.
The King's Death
Clément was allowed to meet the King. He pretended to have an important, secret message. The King's guards left the room. As Clément leaned in to whisper to King Henry, he used a dagger to stab the King. The guards quickly returned and killed Clément right away. King Henry III died early the next morning.
People who supported King Henry III saw this act as terrible and violent. However, in Paris and among the Catholic League, Clément was seen very differently. Many called him a martyr, someone who dies for their beliefs. Even Pope Sixtus V praised him. Some people even talked about making him a saint.
