Janus Fregose, bishop of Agen, a prelate during the period of the religious wars in France

The material in this article is based on archival documents from collections in St. Petersburg, and devoted to the study of the church and political career of Janus Fregose, Bishop of Agen (1531-1586) who was the head of the church house of the king’s sister Marguerite de Valois and also directed the city council of Agen and organized the armed resistance to the Huguenots during the aggravation of religious and political hostilities in southern France. Te protege of the Qeen-Mother Catherine de Medicis and an authorized representative of kings Charles IX and Henry III, he never betrayed the interests of the crown and fulfilled his numerous responsibilities, assuming functions of spiritual pastor, church administrator, royal adviser and political intermediary during the time of religious wars and financial difficulties. Tus he can be considered as one of the key figures of French history during the second half of the 16th century