As 1562 comes to an end, the Catholics have a series of victories over the Huguenots, such as the fall of Rouen and the defeat of the Protestant forces in Aquitaine. Condé responds by trying the seize Paris, and the Battle of Dreux ensues to decide the fate of France.

With Toulouse securely in Catholic hands, Joyeuse tries to reclaim the rest of Languedoc for himself. He lays siege to Montpellier,  but in order to defeat the Huguenots, he first must link up with Catholic forces under Sommerive on the other side of Provence.

In May of 1562, the streets of Toulouse came alive with blood as religious riots gave way to urban warfare, leaving thousands dead. University students fought alongside their fellow townsmen, as snipers dominated the roofs of the city and barricades divided its streets.

A quarrel between the Duke of Guise and the Prince of Condé erupts into a full civil war as power struggles consume countless cities across France.

This time, the Duke of Guise makes new friends and enemies as he clashes with a Huguenot congregation in the city of Wassy, France. A massacre against the Protestants ensues, leaving fifty dead.

The reign of Francis II was characterized by further religious tensions, as Protestants try to kidnap the king at court. However, the young king's death leads to Charles IX on the throne, and Catherine de Medici experiments with religious toleration.

The second of three introductory videos that cover the background of the French Wars of Religion. This episode examines the reign of King Henri II of France, and how Protestantism continued to grow despite increased persecution from the government.

This is the first of three introductory videos that cover the background of the French Wars of Religion. In this video, I give a broad overview of the entrance of Protestantism into France under the reign of King Francis I.