I.

Introduction

French Wars of Religion (1562-1598), series of political and social upheavals in France caused by the weakness of the Valois monarchy in the face of religious conflict and aristocratic rivalry. The wars saw Roman Catholics, led by the House of Guise, in conflict with Protestant Calvinists, led by the House of Bourbon, and fell into a context of a wider religious quarrel that took place throughout Europe. There were in fact eight wars, intersected by short periods of peace.