Jean V of Parthenay

Jean V de Parthenay-L'Archevêque, or Larchevêque, Sieur de Soubise (c. 1512 – 1 September 1566),  was a Protestant French nobleman, last lord of Mouchamps, from the Parthenay-l'Archevêque family. His father, Jean IV de Parthenay, died before he was born. His mother was humanist Michelle de Saubonne. He married Antoinette d'Aubeterre, and their daughter and was Catherine de Parthenay, who later married René II, Viscount of Rohan.

During the Italian War of 1551–1559, he served as a fighter and ambassador under Henry II,^[a] with whom he had been friends since childhood. He was a close friend of Henry II's wife Catherine de' Medici.

He converted to Calvinism in 1562 after the massacre of Vassy (Wassy). During the French Wars of Religion, he became one of the most ardent supporters of Louis I, Prince of Condé, and the Huguenots. François Viète, who served as his lawyer and secretary from 1564 to 1566, recorded his memoirs.^[1] They were published in 1879 by Jules Bonnot and extensively commented on and popularized by Frédéric Ritter and Benjamin Fillon.

Jean V of Parthenay was accused of ordering the death of Francis, Duke of Guise. His government of Lyons (1563) nevertheless spared Catholics the cruelties of François de Beaumont, Baron des Adrets. His efforts helped to keep the peace between the warring factions until he died in 1566. For a time, he even hoped to convert the queen mother to the doctrine of the Calvinists. According to the 16th-century historian Jacques Auguste de Thou, "Jean de Parthenay combined an august birth with great moderation and uncommon skill."^[2]

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).