Original subtitles

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.