All language subtitles for The Real War of Thrones s02e04 Blood Wedding 1567-1574

How can I help our Protestant allies?

Previously on The Real War of Thrones.

Unrest in Europe.

In England, Queen Elizabeth I was under
threat from her Scottish kind. But if

one day Mary Stuart should sit on the
throne of England, then her child must

one of ours.

My love.

In Scotland, Mary Stuart was about to
lose her throne for love.

Few doubted that Mary, Queen of Scots,
was an accomplice in her husband's

assassination. Majesty, Majesty, your
husband has been murdered.

How dare you gather here? In France, the
massacre of Vassy had rekindled the

wars of religion.

My friends, the Catholics continue to
humiliate us. Despite the death of their

leaders, both Catholics and Protestants
refused to quit. I'll bleed those

Huguenot dogs to death.

In Flanders, the revolt against the King
of Spain escalated.

They are nothing but beggars.

This was the bloodiest period of the
Renaissance.

The traitor!

This time, the Queen of England feared
for her life.

The former Queen of God, imprisoned by
her Protestant cousin, planned to

While the King of France was helpless to
avert a massacre that would mark the

history of the wars of religion.

Murderous madness had gripped Europe.

in the summer of 1567, Catholic Mary
Queen of Scots was being held prisoner

Scottish Protestants.

A few days after her arrest, her half
-brother, James Stewart, had visited her

at Loch Levin Castle.

James!

Help me!

But James Stewart had not come to set
his sister free.

He needed to keep her locked up because
he wanted the crown for himself.

James was convinced that Mary's new
husband, Lord Bothwell, had ordered the

murder of the King Concert of Scotland.

And that Mary was his accomplice.

As proof, James showed Mary what
historians refer to as the casket

The many passionate poems she had
written to Lord Bothwell before they

married. Enough!

Overwhelming proof.

Mary, Queen of Scots, saw that she had
little choice.

To save her life, she agreed to abdicate
in favor of her only son, James VI of

Scotland.

He was just one year old.

Until her son was old enough to reign,
her half -brother James Stuart was named

regent.

Crowned Queen of Scotland at nine months
old, then Queen of France at sixteen,

Mary Stuart had lost everything for
love.

The other side of the border, in
England, Elizabeth I did not rejoice at

Stuart's imprisonment.

She may have always feared her cousin,
but she was equally terrified that her

people may one day follow the example of
the Scots and seek to overthrow her. We

have enemies everywhere.

We must back.

In England, the Catholic nobles were
also in full revolt against their

sovereigns.

They would no longer tolerate the
reformist religion imposed by Elizabeth

the last ten years.

Elizabeth had once refused to persecute
anyone for their faith, but now the

queen was in danger.

For her own security, she set up the
largest network of spies in Europe.

Elizabeth discovered that the leader of
the revolt was the Duke of Norfolk.

Once one of her most senior advisors,
Norfolk wanted to restore Catholicism to

England. Throw him in the tower.

The tolerance be damned.

The royal repression was fierce.

450 rebels were executed.

And 28 priests were hanged for
practicing mass.

We may have quashed the revolt, but we
can't afford to start a war.

Philip of Spain will use it to gain his
revenge.

Elizabeth now knew that she had as many
enemies inside the kingdom as outside.

Beginning with Spain and King Philip II,
the most ardent defender of Catholicism

in Europe after the Pope.

So to defend herself against the king of
Spain, Elizabeth supported William of

Orange.

For the glory of God!

In Flanders, he assumed the command of
the Protestant revolt against the

king's Catholic army.

A keen strategist, William allied
himself with the German prince Wolfgang

Bavaria. Together, they lent a hand to
Admiral Gaspard de Coligny.

Once a fierce offender of the French
Catholics, Coligny, removed from power

the Guise brothers, had since embraced
Calvinist ideology.

He was now the leader of the French
Protestants, known as the Huguenots.

On June 12, 1569, having ransacked
Beaune and crossed the Berry, the Dutch

German soldiers joined Coligny at Saint
-Irie in Aquitaine.

The Protestant army was now 25 ,000
strong.

For the kingdom of France and the
kingdom of Heaven!

Henri of Anjou, brother of King Charles
IX, victor of the Battle of Jarnac some

weeks earlier, knew that the Protestants
had never been as strong.

But with all the hot -headedness of his
18 years, he carried on the fight,

certain of winning.

The French war of religion was underway.

For six months, the Royal Catholic Army
clashed violently with German, Dutch,

and French Protestants, inflicting a
great number of deaths.

The battles were evenly pitched.

By autumn, the troops were at
Montcontour, in the north of Poitou.

The Catholics, who outnumbered
Protestants two to one, took the

The Battle of Montcontour was the
harshest of the Huguenot defeats.

Nothing could stop the Catholics, who
took Châtellerault, Nyon, Lusignan, and

then laid siege to Saint -Jean d
'Angely, which eventually surrendered.

But with winter coming, the royal army
of the Duke of Anjou was in bad shape,

weakened by battle, disease, and
desertion.

Couligny, meanwhile, headed for the
south of the kingdom.

where he was joined by many Protestants.

His army in Montpellier grew to 20 ,000
strong.

From then on, victory followed victory.

Nobody managed to stop Coligny and his
men. They were now marching on Paris.

In July 1570, the Kingdom of France was
literally cut in two.

This situation threatened the future of
the monarchy, and so on August 8, 1570,

Charles IX and Admiral de Coligny signed
a new peace treaty.

This time, the Protestants officially
obtained four places of safety, La

Rochelle, Montauban, Cognac, and La
Charité sur Loire.

Catherine de' Medici, who was now 51,
was forced to face facts. Her favorite

son, Henry of Anjou, could do nothing
against the military might of the

Protestants.

So she decided to hold out the hand of
friendship to Queen Elizabeth.

Ask our ambassador in London to present
this letter to Queen Elizabeth.

On the other side of the channel, Queen
Elizabeth was vulnerable.

In early 1570, she was excommunicated by
the formidable Pope Pius V.

The pontiff also informed the English
that anyone who continued to obey the

queen would go straight to hell.

From now on, any Englishman, whatever
his faith, either Catholic

or Protestant, was anathema if he

supported the queen.

Pius V called Elizabeth a heretic and a
usurper.

The Pope considered Elizabeth
illegitimate, as the marriage between

Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII was
never officially sanctioned by the

Therefore, Elizabeth did not belong on
the English throne.

When a French ambassador arrived in
England, and proposed a marriage between

Elizabeth and the Catholic Prince Henry
of Anjou.

Elizabeth saw an opportunity to get back
into the Pope's good books.

To share my bed and my crown with the
Prince of France.

Why not, after all?

This time, she promised she would
consider the marriage.

At the French court, Henri of Anjou
reacted strongly against the pan

Gentlemen, look what my mother envisages
for my happiness.

An old balding heretic, 18 years my
senior.

And, and, and, apparently this woman is
expected to give me an heir.

Henri always preferred the company of
his favorite boys, nicknamed his mignon,

to conjugal life.

The brother of the King of France made
it known, via a very courteous letter to

the Queen of England, that he was ending
all marriage negotiations, essentially

for religious reasons.

Catherine de' Medici's plan had failed.

But Henry of Anjou wasn't Catherine's
only problem.

At 21, King Charles IX was a man in
fragile health.

A consummate horseman and hunter,
Charles dreamt of distinguishing himself

the field of battle.

But Catherine refused to allow him to
make a single decision, either political

or personal.

Frustrated by his lack of freedom and
jealous of his brother's recent military

victories, Charles felt very alone.

But then he received support from an
unexpected place.

The leader of the Protestants in France,
Admiral Gaspard de Coligny.

Since signing the Saint -Germain peace
treaty in the summer, Charles and

had become inseparable.

It's believed the king spoke to Coligny
about his unhappiness.

Nobody stands with me anymore.

They are all turned to my brother.

But you are here.

You.

My father.

At 51, Coligny believed that the young
king needed a father figure.

Someone who could teach him values and
impart the advice he needed to overcome

his mother's authority.

The decision was yours.

Coligny also used their friendship to
influence the king.

He wanted to unite Catholics and
Protestants against the Spaniards.

But Catherine de' Medici was certain
that declaring war on Spain would be a

disaster, especially as she had another
plan to overcome her enemies.

Marry me, Margot.

I am the sister of the king, dear
friend, and betrothed to a prince.

Surely a lowly Duke of Guise doesn't
think he is a match.

That annoys you, huh? Lowly Duke of
Guise.

You're nothing but a wretched harlot.

How can a princess of France prefer
debauchery over the glory of her

And you, Guise, you're barely worth more
than your father. Get out!

Get out!

Catherine de' Medici had decided to
marry her Catholic daughter Margaret of

Valois, known as Margot, to Henry of
Bourbon.

heir to the throne of Navarre, a
Protestant.

At 18, Henry of Navarre was a spirited
young man from Bayern.

He had a great fondness for hunting and
beautiful women. He grew up at the court

of France with his father, Antoine
Bourbon.

Henry was a direct descendant of the
Capetian king, heir to the Bourbon

on his father's side. He was also heir
to the crown of Navarre on his mother,

Jeanne d 'Albray.

Though Protestant, Henry of Navarre was
the most eligible bachelor in France,

perfect sister of King Charles.

Never will I marry that heretic, do you
hear me?

Never!

The problem was, Margot was in love with
the handsome Henry of Guise, leader of

the Catholics.

The 21 -year -old soldier was determined
to avenge the death of his father,

Francis, Duke of Guise, Catherine de'
Medici's former enemy.

In the eyes of the Queen Mother,
Margot's marriage to Henry of Navarre

unique opportunity to ally France's two
great royal houses, the Valois and

Bourbons. It would also ease tensions
between Catholics and Protestants.

Catholics referred to the marriage as an
abhorrent coupling.

The Pope himself expressed his
disapproval to the Queen.

The impossible can only be made possible
by God, Madam.

But the impossible was made possible.

800 Protestants, including all of Henry
of Navarre's friends, arrived in Paris

to witness the wedding.

On August 18, 1572, at around 4 o 'clock
in the afternoon, everyone gathered on

the square in front of Notre Dame
Cathedral.

Margot was wearing a beautiful bridal
gown.

Henry of Navarre was worried.

Everything was running smoothly when
suddenly an incident threatened to

everything.

When the time came to give her consent,
Margot refused to speak.

Legend has it that after a long silence,
King Charles pushed his sister's neck,

forcing her to give her consent.

Four days after the wedding, at 11 in
the morning, the leader of the

Protestants, Admiral of Coligny, was
victim of an assassination attempt at

Louvre.

The failed assassination rocked the
whole of France.

An investigation determined that the
people behind the attack were none other

than Catherine de' Medici and her
younger son, Henry of Anjou.

Why?

Why did you do this?

It's believed that when King Charles
learned of his mother and brother's

involvement in the attempted murder, he
was furious. Why did you do this?

It was in the interest of the kingdom.

But you're my mother.

Yes, and I'm defending your interest.

Catherine de' Medici is believed to have
told her son that Coligny was plotting

against him and that he was in danger.

And you, my brother.

I am unshakable.

He must be eliminated. No, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no.

No, not calling you, no. It's out of the
question. The Queen Mother, less than

impressed with her son's weakness,
threatened him.

Join us, I beg you.

It will happen with or without you.

And you will be king in name alone.

You want this? All right, then kill
them!

But kill them all, so not a single one
is left to reproach me.

Not a single one.

But in reality, this scene between the
king and his mother never actually took

place.

Historians say the attempt on Coligny
was ordered by the Duke of Guise to

his father.

Francis, Duke of Guise, killed ten years
earlier by the Huguenots.

An attack that revived hatred between
Catholics and Protestants and ignited

Paris.

At 3 a .m. on the night of April 24,
1572, in the heart of the capital, the

bells of Saint -Germain -Luxerrois
Church gave the signal for one of the

bloodiest nights in France's history.

To identify themselves, Catholics placed
a torch in their window and wore a

white scarf on their left arm.

Harry was in the grip of murderous
madness.

One man took advantage of the chaos to
gain entry into Admiral of Coligny's

room. He'd been sent by the Duke of
Guise to finish the attempted

from two days earlier.

Colligny's body was then tossed out the
window.

Around 3 ,000 of Coligny's fellow
Protestants were massacred in Paris that

and over the two following days.

But the St. Bartholomew's massacre
wasn't just in Paris.

The madness cast a pall over the entire
kingdom.

The very next day, massacres took place
in La Charité sur Loire, On

August 26th and 27th, it exploded in
Orléans, then in

Lyon on the 31st, then Troyes, Bourges,
Rouen, Bordeaux, Toulouse.

The Catholics' bloodthirsty fury
resulted in 10 ,000 deaths throughout

But the most famous Protestant was still
alive.

As the sun rose on Paris, bathed in
blood, Charles IX summoned his

cousin and now brother -in -law.

Ah, never!

What is it, then?

Mass?

Death?

All the best to you.

Navarre had no choice.

To save his life, he needed to renounce
Protestantism and convert to

Catholicism.

Sir, you are my king.

I believe in the Holy and Apostolic
Catholic Church.

I believe in the Holy and Apostolic
Catholic Church.

One month after St. Bartholomew's Day,

France's leading Protestant, Henry of
Navarre, rejected his faith.

I confess a baptism unto forgiveness of
sins.

And await the future resurrection of the
dead. Throughout France, many Huguenots

began to convert rather than die as
martyrs.

I most firmly admit and embrace the
apostolic... I most firmly admit and

the apostolic... And ecclesiastical
traditions.

And ecclesiastical traditions.

The shockwave produced in Europe by the
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre was

phenomenal.

In Rome, on September 8, the Pope had a
commemorative medal cast.

then ordered a fresco to celebrate the
power of the Catholic faith over heresy.

In Spain, Philip II declared St.

Bartholomew's Day to be the best day of
his life.

In England, Queen Elizabeth entered a
period of mourning, but she took no

action. She had enemies closer to home
to deal with.

Her chief concern was still her Catholic
cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.

After a year in captivity in Scotland,
Mary Stuart escaped Loch Leven Castle.

She raised an army of 6 ,000 men to help
her reclaim her crown.

But in Glastonbury, Mary's forces lost
the Battle of Langside against the

Protestant army led by her brother James
Stuart.

Forced to flee, she sailed for England,
hoping her cousin Elizabeth would give

her refuge.

But Mary had walked into the lion's den.

The English monarch immediately
imprisoned her in Carlisle Castle.

This imprisonment outraged the whole of
Catholic Europe, especially the King of

Spain, who swore to set Mary free.

He regularly sent her messengers
offering support and promising her

Philip of Spain was determined to put
Mary on the throne of England in place

the Protestant Queen Elizabeth.

But one after the other, plots were

foiled and messengers arrested.

In retaliation, Elizabeth tightened her
grip on Mary.

The conditions in her cell became
increasingly harsh.

Elizabeth also stepped up her aid to the
French Protestants. They had organized

a rebellion in La Rochelle, their
stronghold.

A new war seemed imminent.

To prevent it, The king of France,
Charles IX, sent his brother Henry of

to lay siege to the city.

By April, the young prince commanded a
vast army of 28 ,000 men and 40 cannons.

You and your army will block the north
road. That way we'll be able to cut off

the supplies for those Huguenot dogs.

Navarre, now a Catholic, had been forced
to follow the king's brother to fight

the Huguenots, who once supported it.

We'll attack them here.

Henry of Anjou ordered the bombardment
of the northwestern corner of La

Rochelle. But after four attacks, the
city's fortifications held, and the

Catholics suffered heavy loss.

King Charles sent a letter from Paris in
support of his brother.

He begged him to press on to victory.

But by June 12th, after an eighth
assault, the royal guard, sick and

decided to flee rather than fight.

Henry of Anjou wrote to the king, I am
almost ashamed to be friend.

Two days later.

Henri of Anjou was wounded in his leg,
his left hand, and his neck.

Inside the ramparts of La Rochelle, the
Protestants were

also exhausted from the six -month
siege.

On June 24th, the Catholic King of
France signed a peace treaty with the

Protestants. Two weeks later...

He struck his camp.

The Edict of Boulogne, which put an end
to the fourth phase of the French wars

of religion, satisfied nobody.

The reformers only obtained freedom of
worship in three cities, La Rochelle,

Nîmes, and Montauban.

They lost Cognac and La Charité sur
Loire, obtained in the previous treaty.

This was unacceptable to the Protestants
and the Catholics.

So it was back to the drawing board.

the throne of France was looking
distinctly shaky.

Since St. Bartholomew's day, Charles IX
had been gradually slipping into

madness.

Days of hunting were followed by bouts
of fever and depression and punctuated

fits of euphoria.

At just twenty -three, the King of
France looked twice his age.

In the spring of 1574, stricken by
fever, his breath was becoming shorter

shorter.

Charles' weakness and the absence of his
brother, who was now the King of

Poland, left the door wide open for
another revolt.

Catherine de' Medici knew that France
was once more on the brink of chaos.

In the last days of May, Charles' health
worsened.

The body of Christ.

Like all kings, Charles knew he must die
in public.

So after hearing mass on Whitsunday, he
called for his young brother, Francis,

Duke of Alençon, and his cousin, Henry
of Navarre.

My brother, please hear my will and
uphold it.

Take greater care of the kingdom than of
yourselves.

Charles asked Francis and Navarre to
agree to his brother, Henry, King of

Poland, succeeding him to the throne.

Then his mother came to his bedside.

My child.

My child.

Your condition no longer allows you to
ensure the affairs of the kingdom.

For its safeguard.

And like in the first hours of your
reign, I beg you to place your trust in

Entrust me with the regency. I promise
you to continue your work.

Once again, Catherine de' Medici put her
role as queen ahead of that of mother.

You will do exactly as my mother
commands.

You will obey her as you did me.

Now, madam,

I feel it is time to take my leave and
bid you farewell.

Adieu, my queen.

Adieu, my mother.

Charles IX, who was only 24 years old,
died a few hours later from

The young man who dreamed of honor and
glory would forever be seen as a

madman who ordered the St. Bartholomew's
Day Massacre.

On his death, it fell to his brother
Henry of Anjou to ascend to the throne

France.

Catherine de' Medici placed all her
hopes in Henry to finally end the French

wars of religion.

Did she know that the Protestants of
Europe We're now supporting Henry of

Navarre, the most powerful man in
France.