Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV to the Revolution - James Aitken Wylie

put them.[1]
The Huguenot body at this period had, to use
the old classic figure, but one neck -- that neck was
their stronghold of La Rochelle, and the cardinal
resolved to strike it through at a blow. La Rochelle
was perhaps, after Paris, the most famous of the
cities of France. It enjoyed a charter of civic
independence, which dated from the twelfth
century. It was governed by a mayor and council of
100. Its citizens amounted at this time to 30,000.
They were industrious, rich, intelligent, and
strongly attached to the Protestant faith, which they
had early embraced. Not once throughout the long
struggle had La Rochelle succumbed to the royal
arms, though often besieged.[2] This virgin fortress
was the strongest rampart of the Huguenots.
The great chiefs -- Conde, Coligny, Henry of
Navarre -- had often :made it their head-quarters.
Within its gates had assembled the famous Synod
of 1571, which comprised so much that was
illustrious in rank, profound in erudition, and
venerable in piety, and which marks the
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