Catherine de Medici vs Moise Tshombe

After the death of her son Francis II, Catherine de Medici became regent for her ten-year-old son Charles IX. She assumed control of the French government during the early Wars of Religion, seeking to maintain royal authority and religious peace.

Catherine issued the Edict of Saint-Germain, granting limited toleration to Huguenots and allowing them to worship outside towns. This edict aimed to reduce religious tensions but was rejected by Catholic hardliners, contributing to the outbreak of the First War of Religion.

Catherine de Medici was implicated in the assassination of Huguenot leader Gaspard de Coligny, which triggered a wave of mob violence in Paris that killed thousands of Huguenots. The massacre spread to other cities and deepened the religious conflict in France.

Catherine negotiated the Peace of Monsieur, which granted extensive concessions to Huguenots, including freedom of worship and fortified towns. The peace was opposed by the Catholic League and led to the formation of the Catholic League, escalating tensions.

Tshombe declared the independence of the mineral-rich Katanga province from the newly independent DR Congo. This secession triggered the Congo Crisis, with Tshombe's regime backed by Belgian mining interests and mercenaries.

Tshombe was appointed prime minister of the DR Congo by President Kasa-Vubu, tasked with ending the Simba rebellion. His return to national politics was controversial due to his role in the Katanga secession.

After being ousted from power, Tshombe went into exile in Spain. He was sentenced to death in absentia for treason. He died in Algeria under disputed circumstances, reportedly from a heart attack or poisoning.