List of massacres in France
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:11:25 PM Wikipedia source
The following is a list of massacres that have occurred in France (numbers may be approximate):
Tables
· Celtic Gaul
1st Cenabum massacre
1st Cenabum massacre
Name
1st Cenabum massacre
Date
53 BC
Location
Cenabum
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Carnutes
Notes
Carnutes massacre Roman civilians and soldiers
2nd Cenabum massacre
2nd Cenabum massacre
Name
2nd Cenabum massacre
Date
53 BC
Location
Cenabum
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Roman army
Notes
Julius Caesar's soldiers massacre the population of Cenabum.
Siege of Avaricum
Siege of Avaricum
Name
Siege of Avaricum
Date
52 BC
Location
Avaricum
Deaths
39,200
Perpetrators
Roman army
Notes
Julius Caesar's soldiers massacre the population of Avaricum.
| Name | Date | Location | Deaths | Perpetrators | Notes |
| 1st Cenabum massacre | 53 BC | Cenabum | Unknown | Carnutes | Carnutes massacre Roman civilians and soldiers |
| 2nd Cenabum massacre | 53 BC | Cenabum | Unknown | Roman army | Julius Caesar's soldiers massacre the population of Cenabum. |
| Siege of Avaricum | 52 BC | Avaricum | 39,200 | Roman army | Julius Caesar's soldiers massacre the population of Avaricum. |
· Roman Gaul
Sack of Metz
Sack of Metz
Name
Sack of Metz
Date
7 April 451
Location
Metz
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Huns
Notes
City sacked and burned and all inhabitants killed by Hun troops under Attila.
| Name | Date | Location | Deaths | Perpetrators | Notes |
| Sack of Metz | 7 April 451 | Metz | Unknown | Huns | City sacked and burned and all inhabitants killed by Hun troops under Attila. |
· Merovingian Francia
Vienne massacre
Vienne massacre
Name
Vienne massacre
Date
501
Location
Vienne
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Forces of Gundobad and Godegisel
Notes
Townspeople slaughtered during battle between competing Burgundian factions. Hostile Gallo-Roman senators and Godegisel's supporters executed by Gundobad's troops.
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges massacre
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges massacre
Name
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges massacre
Date
585
Location
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Kingdom of Orléans
Notes
All inhabitants, including priests, put to the sword by royal troops of Guntram
| Name | Date | Location | Deaths | Perpetrators | Notes |
| Vienne massacre | 501 | Vienne | Unknown | Forces of Gundobad and Godegisel | Townspeople slaughtered during battle between competing Burgundian factions. Hostile Gallo-Roman senators and Godegisel's supporters executed by Gundobad's troops. |
| Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges massacre | 585 | Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges | Unknown | Kingdom of Orléans | All inhabitants, including priests, put to the sword by royal troops of Guntram |
· Carolingian Francia
Siege of Clermont (761)
Siege of Clermont (761)
Name
Siege of Clermont (761)
Date
761
Location
Clermont
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Royal Frankish Army
Notes
Men, women and children burned alive by Frankish army of King Pepin the Short.
Sack of Nantes
Sack of Nantes
Name
Sack of Nantes
Date
24 June 843
Location
Nantes
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Vikings
Notes
Town population and monks massacred and burned alive in a church by raiding Vikings. Others captured as slaves.
Marmoutier massacre
Marmoutier massacre
Name
Marmoutier massacre
Date
853
Location
Marmoutier Abbey
Deaths
126
Perpetrators
Vikings
Notes
126 monks killed by Vikings. 20 survivors escaped.
| Name | Date | Location | Deaths | Perpetrators | Notes |
| Siege of Clermont (761) | 761 | Clermont | Unknown | Royal Frankish Army | Men, women and children burned alive by Frankish army of King Pepin the Short. |
| Sack of Nantes | 24 June 843 | Nantes | Unknown | Vikings | Town population and monks massacred and burned alive in a church by raiding Vikings. Others captured as slaves. |
| Marmoutier massacre | 853 | Marmoutier Abbey | 126 | Vikings | 126 monks killed by Vikings. 20 survivors escaped. |
· Capetian France
Orléans heresy
Orléans heresy
Name
Orléans heresy
Date
28 December 1022
Location
Orléans
Deaths
10–20
Perpetrators
Robert II the Pious
Notes
10–20 priests, nuns and lay people burned at the stake on orders of King Robert II of France
Rouen massacre
Rouen massacre
Name
Rouen massacre
Date
September 1096
Location
Rouen
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
Jews of Rouen rounded up in the synagogue and systematically massacred by Crusaders
Tournai-sur-Dive massacre
Tournai-sur-Dive massacre
Name
Tournai-sur-Dive massacre
Date
1105
Location
Tournai-sur-Dive
Deaths
45
Perpetrators
Troops of Robert of Bellême
Notes
45 people burned alive in a church by forces of Robert of Bellême
Bougy-sur-Risle massacre
Bougy-sur-Risle massacre
Name
Bougy-sur-Risle massacre
Date
1136
Location
Romilly-la-Puthenaye
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Troops of Waleran and Robert de Beaumont
Notes
Men and women burned alive in a church by forces of Waleran and Robert de Beaumont
Vitry massacre
Vitry massacre
Name
Vitry massacre
Date
1142
Location
Vitry-en-Perthois
Deaths
1,300
Perpetrators
Royal Army
Notes
1,300 people burned alive in a church by forces of King Louis VII of France
Ham massacre
Ham massacre
Name
Ham massacre
Date
1143
Location
Ham
Deaths
150
Perpetrators
Unknown
Notes
150 Jews massacred
Vézelay massacre
Vézelay massacre
Name
Vézelay massacre
Date
1167
Location
Vézelay
Deaths
7
Perpetrators
Abbot of Vézelay
Notes
Seven Burgundian Cathars burned at the stake
Blois massacre
Blois massacre
Name
Blois massacre
Date
26 May 1171
Location
Blois
Deaths
31
Perpetrators
Soldiers of Theobald V, Count of Blois
Notes
31 Jews, including 17 women, locked in and burned alive in a house by Theobald V, Count of Blois on accusations of blood libel
Bray-sur-Seine massacre
Bray-sur-Seine massacre
Name
Bray-sur-Seine massacre
Date
18 March 1192
Location
Bray-sur-Seine
Deaths
80
Perpetrators
Royal Army
Notes
80 Jews burned by French troops, acting on command of King Philip II of France
Massacre at Béziers
Massacre at Béziers
Name
Massacre at Béziers
Date
22 July 1209
Location
Béziers
Deaths
20,000
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
First major military action of the Albigensian Crusade.
Siege of Minerve
Siege of Minerve
Name
Siege of Minerve
Date
22 July 1210
Location
Minerve
Deaths
140
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
Cathars burned at the stake by Crusaders.
Alayrac massacre
Alayrac massacre
Name
Alayrac massacre
Date
1210
Location
Alayrac
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
Stronghold garrison captured and massacred by Crusaders
Lavaur massacre
Lavaur massacre
Name
Lavaur massacre
Date
3 May 1211
Location
Lavaur
Deaths
480
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
80 knights hanged and stabbed to death, 400 Cathars burned by Crusaders
Les Cassés massacre
Les Cassés massacre
Name
Les Cassés massacre
Date
20 May 1211
Location
Les Cassés
Deaths
60–94
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
60–94 Cathars burned alive by Simon de Montfort's Crusaders
Saint Marcel massacre
Saint Marcel massacre
Name
Saint Marcel massacre
Date
12 May 1212
Location
Saint–Marcel
Deaths
28
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
28 male civilians killed or drowned by Crusaders
Lavelanet massacre
Lavelanet massacre
Name
Lavelanet massacre
Date
1212
Location
Lavelanet
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
Inhabitants put to the sword by Crusader forces under Guy de Montfort, Lord of Sidon
Moissac massacre
Moissac massacre
Name
Moissac massacre
Date
8 September 1212
Location
Moissac
Deaths
300
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
300 garrison soldiers executed without trial by Crusaders
Pujol massacre
Pujol massacre
Name
Pujol massacre
Date
May 1213
Location
Sainte-Foy-d'Aigrefeuille
Deaths
60
Perpetrators
Toulousain militia
Notes
60 Crusaders killed in Pujol Castle by mob of soldiers under Roger-Bernard
Casseneuil massacre
Casseneuil massacre
Name
Casseneuil massacre
Date
18 August 1214
Location
Casseneuil
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
Population and garrison massacred
Massacre at Marmande
Massacre at Marmande
Name
Massacre at Marmande
Date
10 June 1219
Location
Marmande
Deaths
5,000
Perpetrators
Royal Army
Notes
All men, women and children in the town killed with swords and the town razed and burned to the ground by royal army under prince Louis.
Labécède massacre
Labécède massacre
Name
Labécède massacre
Date
1227
Location
Labécède
Deaths
Unknown
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
Men killed and Cathar Perfect burnt to death by Crusader forces of Humbert V de Beaujeu
Moissac massacre
Moissac massacre
Name
Moissac massacre
Date
1234
Location
Moissac
Deaths
210
Perpetrators
Papal Inquisition
Notes
210 Cathars burned at the stake by Inquisitors William Arnald and Peter Seila
Jewish massacres
Jewish massacres
Name
Jewish massacres
Date
July 1236
Location
Poitou, Anjou and Brittany
Deaths
2,500–3,000
Perpetrators
Crusaders
Notes
Jews killed by Crusaders
Montwimer massacre
Montwimer massacre
Name
Montwimer massacre
Date
29 May 1239
Location
Montwimer
Deaths
183
Perpetrators
Papal Inquisition/Crusaders
Notes
183 Cathars burned at the stake by Robert le Bougre and Thibaut IV of Champagne
Carcassonne massacre
Carcassonne massacre
Name
Carcassonne massacre
Date
8 September 1240
Location
Carcassonne
Deaths
33
Perpetrators
Army of Raymond II Trencavel
Notes
33 clerics massacred by forces of Trencavel after being promised safe passage from the besieged city.
Avignonet massacre
Avignonet massacre
Name
Avignonet massacre
Date
28 May 1242
Location
Avignonet
Deaths
11
Perpetrators
Cathars
Notes
Two Inquisitors and their nine followers massacred in their sleep by Cathar rebels under Pierre-Roger de Mirepoix
Siege of Montségur
Siege of Montségur
Name
Siege of Montségur
Date
16 March 1244
Location
Château de Montségur
Deaths
210–215
Perpetrators
Royal Army
Notes
Cathars burned in a bonfire by the Royal Army.
Agen massacre
Agen massacre
Name
Agen massacre
Date
1249
Location
Agen
Deaths
80
Perpetrators
Papal Inquisition
Notes
80 heretics burned at the stake
Dijon massacre
Dijon massacre
Name
Dijon massacre
Date
1251
Location
Dijon
Deaths
139
Perpetrators
Shepherd Crusaders
Notes
139 Jews massacred
Troyes massacre
Troyes massacre
Name
Troyes massacre
Date
24 April 1288
Location
Troyes
Deaths
13
Perpetrators
Papal Inquisition
Notes
13 Jews burned at the stake by the Inquisition, supported by King Philip IV of France
Castelsarrasin massacre
Castelsarrasin massacre
Name
Castelsarrasin massacre
Date
12 June 1320
Location
Castelsarrasin
Deaths
152
Perpetrators
Shepherd Crusaders
Notes
152 Jews massacred by Pastoureaux
Toulouse massacre
Toulouse massacre
Name
Toulouse massacre
Date
15 June 1320
Location
Toulouse
Deaths
115–150
Perpetrators
Shepherd Crusaders
Notes
115–150 Jews massacred by Pastoureaux
Vitry massacre
Vitry massacre
Name
Vitry massacre
Date
1321
Location
Vitry-en-Perthois
Deaths
77
Perpetrators
Unknown
Notes
77 Jews massacred during the 1321 leper scare. Forty Jews imprisoned and committed mass suicide.
Chinon massacre
Chinon massacre
Name
Chinon massacre
Date
21 August 1321
Location
Chinon
Deaths
120–160
Perpetrators
Royal authorities
Notes
120–160 Jews burned at the stake on accusation of well poisoning
| Name | Date | Location | Deaths | Perpetrators | Notes |
| Orléans heresy | 28 December 1022 | Orléans | 10–20 | Robert II the Pious | 10–20 priests, nuns and lay people burned at the stake on orders of King Robert II of France |
| Rouen massacre | September 1096 | Rouen | Unknown | Crusaders | Jews of Rouen rounded up in the synagogue and systematically massacred by Crusaders |
| Tournai-sur-Dive massacre | 1105 | Tournai-sur-Dive | 45 | Troops of Robert of Bellême | 45 people burned alive in a church by forces of Robert of Bellême |
| Bougy-sur-Risle massacre | 1136 | Romilly-la-Puthenaye | Unknown | Troops of Waleran and Robert de Beaumont | Men and women burned alive in a church by forces of Waleran and Robert de Beaumont |
| Vitry massacre | 1142 | Vitry-en-Perthois | 1,300 | Royal Army | 1,300 people burned alive in a church by forces of King Louis VII of France |
| Ham massacre | 1143 | Ham | 150 | Unknown | 150 Jews massacred |
| Vézelay massacre | 1167 | Vézelay | 7 | Abbot of Vézelay | Seven Burgundian Cathars burned at the stake |
| Blois massacre | 26 May 1171 | Blois | 31 | Soldiers of Theobald V, Count of Blois | 31 Jews, including 17 women, locked in and burned alive in a house by Theobald V, Count of Blois on accusations of blood libel |
| Bray-sur-Seine massacre | 18 March 1192 | Bray-sur-Seine | 80 | Royal Army | 80 Jews burned by French troops, acting on command of King Philip II of France |
| Massacre at Béziers | 22 July 1209 | Béziers | 20,000 | Crusaders | First major military action of the Albigensian Crusade. |
| Siege of Minerve | 22 July 1210 | Minerve | 140 | Crusaders | Cathars burned at the stake by Crusaders. |
| Alayrac massacre | 1210 | Alayrac | Unknown | Crusaders | Stronghold garrison captured and massacred by Crusaders |
| Lavaur massacre | 3 May 1211 | Lavaur | 480 | Crusaders | 80 knights hanged and stabbed to death, 400 Cathars burned by Crusaders |
| Les Cassés massacre | 20 May 1211 | Les Cassés | 60–94 | Crusaders | 60–94 Cathars burned alive by Simon de Montfort's Crusaders |
| Saint Marcel massacre | 12 May 1212 | Saint–Marcel | 28 | Crusaders | 28 male civilians killed or drowned by Crusaders |
| Lavelanet massacre | 1212 | Lavelanet | Unknown | Crusaders | Inhabitants put to the sword by Crusader forces under Guy de Montfort, Lord of Sidon |
| Moissac massacre | 8 September 1212 | Moissac | 300 | Crusaders | 300 garrison soldiers executed without trial by Crusaders |
| Pujol massacre | May 1213 | Sainte-Foy-d'Aigrefeuille | 60 | Toulousain militia | 60 Crusaders killed in Pujol Castle by mob of soldiers under Roger-Bernard |
| Casseneuil massacre | 18 August 1214 | Casseneuil | Unknown | Crusaders | Population and garrison massacred |
| Massacre at Marmande | 10 June 1219 | Marmande | 5,000 | Royal Army | All men, women and children in the town killed with swords and the town razed and burned to the ground by royal army under prince Louis. |
| Labécède massacre | 1227 | Labécède | Unknown | Crusaders | Men killed and Cathar Perfect burnt to death by Crusader forces of Humbert V de Beaujeu |
| Moissac massacre | 1234 | Moissac | 210 | Papal Inquisition | 210 Cathars burned at the stake by Inquisitors William Arnald and Peter Seila |
| Jewish massacres | July 1236 | Poitou, Anjou and Brittany | 2,500–3,000 | Crusaders | Jews killed by Crusaders |
| Montwimer massacre | 29 May 1239 | Montwimer | 183 | Papal Inquisition/Crusaders | 183 Cathars burned at the stake by Robert le Bougre and Thibaut IV of Champagne |
| Carcassonne massacre | 8 September 1240 | Carcassonne | 33 | Army of Raymond II Trencavel | 33 clerics massacred by forces of Trencavel after being promised safe passage from the besieged city. |
| Avignonet massacre | 28 May 1242 | Avignonet | 11 | Cathars | Two Inquisitors and their nine followers massacred in their sleep by Cathar rebels under Pierre-Roger de Mirepoix |
| Siege of Montségur | 16 March 1244 | Château de Montségur | 210–215 | Royal Army | Cathars burned in a bonfire by the Royal Army. |
| Agen massacre | 1249 | Agen | 80 | Papal Inquisition | 80 heretics burned at the stake |
| Dijon massacre | 1251 | Dijon | 139 | Shepherd Crusaders | 139 Jews massacred |
| Troyes massacre | 24 April 1288 | Troyes | 13 | Papal Inquisition | 13 Jews burned at the stake by the Inquisition, supported by King Philip IV of France |
| Castelsarrasin massacre | 12 June 1320 | Castelsarrasin | 152 | Shepherd Crusaders | 152 Jews massacred by Pastoureaux |
| Toulouse massacre | 15 June 1320 | Toulouse | 115–150 | Shepherd Crusaders | 115–150 Jews massacred by Pastoureaux |
| Vitry massacre | 1321 | Vitry-en-Perthois | 77 | Unknown | 77 Jews massacred during the 1321 leper scare. Forty Jews imprisoned and committed mass suicide. |
| Chinon massacre | 21 August 1321 | Chinon | 120–160 | Royal authorities | 120–160 Jews burned at the stake on accusation of well poisoning |
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