Anne du Bourg

Anne du Bourg (1521, Riom – 23 December 1559, Paris) was a French magistrate, nephew of the chancellor Antoine du Bourg, and a Protestant martyr.

Early life Educated at the university of Orléans, he became a professor and had Étienne de la Boétie as a student. He became counsellor of the Parlement of Paris in 1557 by which time he had converted to Protestantism.

Trial and execution

In 1559, after receiving a tip, King Henry II attended a session of Parlement, during which he interjected to express his dissatisfaction at the progress against heresy. One of those who rose to object was du Bourg, who obliquely critiqued Henri's infidelity in comparison to the purity of the Protestant community, arousing Henri's fury. Several days later a special commission was established to try Anne and 5 colleagues in the Parlement. He maintained his Protestant conviction, refusing to affirm the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation.