Editing French Wars of Religion (section)

=== {{anchor|1574–1576|fifth}} Death of Charles IX and the "fifth" war (1574–1576) ===
In the absence of the [[Henry III of France|duke of Anjou]], disputes between [[Charles IX of France|Charles]] and his youngest brother, the [[François, Duke of Anjou|duke of Alençon]], led to many Huguenots congregating around Alençon for patronage and support. A failed coup at [[Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye|Saint-Germain]] (February&nbsp;1574), allegedly aiming to release [[Henri I de Bourbon, prince de Condé|Condé]] and [[Henry IV of France|Navarre]] who had been held at court since [[St. Bartholomew's Day massacre|St Bartholemew]]'s, coincided with rather successful Huguenot uprisings in other parts of France such as [[Lower Normandy]], [[Poitou]], and the [[Rhone|Rhône]] valley, which reinitiated hostilities.<ref>Knecht 2000, p.&nbsp;181.</ref>

Three months after Henry of Anjou's coronation as [[King of Poland]], his brother Charles&nbsp;IX died (May&nbsp;1574) and his mother declared herself regent until his return. Henry secretly left Poland and returned via [[Venice]] to France, where he faced the defection of [[Henri I de Montmorency|Montmorency-Damville]], ex-commander in the [[Southern France|Midi]] (November&nbsp;1574). Despite having failed to have established his authority over the Midi, he was crowned King Henry&nbsp;III, at [[Rheims]] (February&nbsp;1575), marrying [[Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont|Louise Vaudémont]], a kinswoman of the Guise, the following day. By April, the crown was already seeking to negotiate,<ref>Knecht 2000, p.&nbsp;190.</ref> and the escape of Alençon from court in September prompted the possibility of an overwhelming coalition of forces against the crown, as [[John I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken|John Casimir of the Palatinate]] invaded [[Champagne, France|Champagne]]. The crown hastily negotiated a truce of seven months with Alençon and promised Casimir's forces 500,000&nbsp;livres to stay east of the [[Rhine]],<ref>Knecht 2000, p.&nbsp;191.</ref> but neither action secured a peace. By May&nbsp;1576, the crown was forced to accept the terms of Alençon, and the Huguenots who supported him, in the [[Edict of Beaulieu]], known as the Peace of Monsieur.{{sfn|Knecht|2016|p=109}}