Pierre de la Place


Duke Pierre de la Place was a French Huguenot martyr, who died a few days after the 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of the Huguenots. According to Foxe, he was informed of the massacre, and ordered to report to the King, to await the King's pleasure. He fled, but was unable to find shelter with any Catholics, and eventually returned to his house and fortified himself in, leading his wife and servants in prayer while he waited. He was eventually obliged to leave with the King's men, who led him into the clutches of assassins who killed him. His corpse was placed in a stable, where it was desecrated with horse dung, and his house was plundered.

Family

Pierre de La Place was the cousin of French Protestant theologian Josué de la Place and the great-great-great-grandfather of eighteenth century writer and playwright Pierre-Antoine de La Place, the first French translator of Shakespeare.

Works