Massacres of the South (1551-1815)

The work opens a sweeping panorama of religious turmoil that tore through the French South from the mid‑sixteenth to the early nineteenth century. Centered on the city of Nîmes, it follows a relentless cycle of persecution, retaliation, and uneasy coexistence, portraying how each side recorded its victories in blood. By tracing the city’s shift from a Catholic stronghold to a Protestant‑leaning community, the narrative captures the broader clash of faiths that echoed from the royal courts to the remote mountains where dissenters sought refuge.

Through vivid episodes—such as the public burning of missionary Maurice Secenat, the hanging of Pierre de Lavau, and the daring arrival of Calvinist preacher Guillaume Moget—the book brings to life the human faces of conviction and conflict. The author weaves together court records, personal testimonies, and local legend, creating a textured portrait of a region where belief became both a weapon and a sanctuary. Listeners will find a richly detailed, yet accessible, account of how faith shaped politics, society, and everyday survival in a turbulent era.