Original subtitles

For the kingdom of France!

And for God!

The wars of religion fashioned the Europe we live in today.

I have the heart and the stomach of a king!

In the 16th century, religion and power were inextricably linked.

Ma 'am, the Catholics are defying you. I will never marry this heretic! You hear

me? Never!

What have you done, Henry? What have you done to this kingdom? Promise he'll

remain Catholic.

At the time of the Renaissance, the rulers of Europe's most important

rivaled each other's violence in the name of God. Kill them, yes!

Kill them all!

God punishes heretics!

There must be another solution.

He who must take the English throne.

Clod. Your prince is offering me the crown of the Netherlands for an army.

Betrayal. It can't be true.

Jealousy and greed rock the most powerful families.

We cannot allow this. I admire your audacity.

The pitiless game between power and faith is the true

history behind today's Europe.

France had a new king.

But his country was at war.

And his brother continued to betray him.

In England, the Virgin Queen was in love.

While the King of Spain had a unique opportunity to expand his empire.

jealousy, sex, and betrayal have set Europe on the verge of explosion.

On February 13th, 1575, Henry, Duke of Anjou and third son of Henry II, was

crowned in the Cathedral of Reims in eastern France.

The same cathedral where his father and two brothers had been crowned.

This was where almost every king of France had been crowned since the 9th

century.

His beloved mother Catherine de' Medici was in attendance, as were his younger

brother Francis, Duke of Alençon, his sister Margaret of Valois, known as

Margot, and her husband, Henry of Navarre.

May the mediator of God and men make you a mediator of priests and of the

people.

It was an emotional day for Catherine de' Medici.

She made no secret of the fact that Henry was her favorite son.

As the Cardinal of Guise placed Charlemagne's old crown on the young

head, it slipped.

And worse still, the holy ampulla containing the holy oil used in the

Clovis didn't look right.

for the superstitious in the gathering.

These incidents did not bode well for the coming reign.

The 23 -year -old Henry III finally wore the crown he had coveted for years.

But the task ahead was daunting.

Henry had inherited a country in ruin, devastated by civil war.

He knew he could count on his mother, Catherine de' Medici, now 56 years old,

help him rebuild his kingdom.

Once crowned, the new king's behavior changed dramatically.

Previously ungodly, the king suddenly became incredibly devout.

But when not praying, Henry III delighted in the pleasures of the court.

He sometimes blazed around for days, surrounded by his favorites, whom he

his mignon.

So, I am now your king.

I shall reward your fidelity.

As well as your loyalty.

And your dedication.

At this time, the walls of the Louvre were covered in offensive graffiti

the king. The behavior of Henry did not fit the image the French had of a strong

ruler.

Everyone thought he should be fighting heretics instead of wasting his time

his favorites.

But while much maligned, the king of France was still perceived as a threat

across the channel.

What news of France?

In England, the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I kept the new King of France

close watch.

Her spies reported that Henry was busy strengthening his ties with other

Catholic rulers across Europe.

She is worse than a demon.

Elizabeth feared that Henry III and the King of Spain were plotting to overthrow

her. and place her cousin Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, on the English throne.

I shall not accept it.

To thwart them, Elizabeth continued to support Protestant rebels in Europe,

urging them to dethrone their Catholic rulers.

While Spain and France are fighting in their own kingdoms, they will balk at

giving my crown to that Scot.

Take this to whom it may concern.

Ever since her coronation 16 years ago, Elizabeth had been threatened by

Catholics at home.

They wanted to see Mary Stewart take her place on the throne.

So for the past seven years, Elizabeth had held her troublesome cousin prisoner

in a castle in northern England.

Day after day in front of her jailers, Mary Stewart feigned acceptance of her

house arrest.

But in the shadows, she was plotting with the Catholic rulers of Europe to

secure her freedom.

She often wrote coded diplomatic letters to the courts of France, Spain, and

Rome.

The messages were passed to accomplices who visited her in various disguises

before being transported to Europe.

The plots only increased the tensions between England and France.

Across the Channel, far from seeking to overthrow Queen Elizabeth, Catherine de'

Medici was eager to forge an alliance with her rival.

Five years ago, Catherine suggested Elizabeth should marry her son Henry.

But he refused to wed a Protestant, choosing instead Louise of Lorraine

-Vaudemont, a young princess without fortune.

Catherine then offered Elizabeth the hand of her youngest son, Francis, Duke

Alençon.

It was a union that Elizabeth initially refused.

But her advisors urged her to reconsider the marriage.

Francis, unlike Henry, was known to be a moderate Catholic and therefore a far

better match for the Protestant queen.

But Francis of Alencon was no Prince Charming.

He suffered from a slight deformity of the spine.

Surly and devious, Francis, who everyone called Monsieur, was hungry for power

and extremely jealous of his older brother, King Henry. He felt cheated of

honors and riches he believed were his birthright.

The new king of France knew to be wary of his brother and others because

of Alençon was not the only dissident in the royal court.

Three years earlier, their sister Margot married Henry of Bourbon, king of

Navarre, forced to become Catholic in the aftermath of the St. Bartholomew's

Massacre. Navarre remained, however, a fervent product.

The king suspected that his brother Francis and Navarre were supporting the

Protestants with Margot's full complicity.

To prevent their escape, King Henry placed them all under house arrest.

Within the royal family, the atmosphere was incredibly tense.

Do not be fooled.

Remember, my son, that you are the king.

With the help of his ever -faithful mignon, Henry III tried to find a way to

drive a wedge between the disloyal trio.

That is an excellent idea, my friend.

His idea was to use the charms of a pretty young noblewoman named Charlotte

Sauve.

You are divine.

Charlotte's mission was to seduce Francis, the king's brother?

You're beautiful.

Navarre's infidelity was a blow to his wife, Margot.

She had never really been in love with Navarre, but she felt utterly betrayed.

Now, three years into her marriage, things were at breaking point.

Under the rule of Charles IX, the court of France was a hotbed of political

intrigue. During this period, the intrigues were amorous.

The air was heavy with jealousy and hatred.

Navarre described his daily life in a letter to his cousin, dated 1575.

The court is the strangest thing you've ever seen.

We're almost constantly poised to cut each other's throats.

We carry daggers and wear coats of armor, and often breastplates beneath

capes.

King Henry's plan had worked.

Divide and conquer.

But behind the scenes in court, Catherine de' Medici wanted to reconcile

son. She believed that unity was strength. She pleaded with King Henry to

his brother more freedom.

Francis, for his part, promised not to attempt any escape.

On the night of September 15, 1575, the newly liberated Francis of Alençon

seized the opportunity to visit one of his mistresses in Paris.

But the lovely lady's residence had two exits.

The king of France's younger brother just slipped out.

At nine o 'clock that evening, the king heard that Monsieur had escaped. Henry

flew into a violent rage.

He was convinced that his brother would now join the Malcontents, a group of

hardline Catholics and Protestants opposed to his reign.

My lord, my dear friend.

In Drus, Francis of Alençon went to meet Henry of Bourbon -Condé, the leader of

the Huguenots, Francis' Protestant.

Francis was not a Protestant, but he was ready to fight for religious freedom if

it meant he could use the Huguenots' power and wealth to force his brother to

grant him honors and privileges in keeping with his standing.

Henry of Bourbon.

The Prince of Condé was 23 years old when he succeeded his father, Louis of

Bourbon. He had died at the Battle of Jarnac six years earlier.

A resolute Calvinist, the Prince of Condé was an accomplished military

who had taken a key role in the Protestant movement.

In Germany, Condé had recruited soldiers ready to fight for the Protestant

cause.

He was now able to count on 30 ,000 men to invade France and obtain what

diplomacy had failed to achieve.

Three days after his escape, Francis sent his brother a solemn declaration.

In the name of the common good, he demanded religious freedom for all and

permission for Protestants to practice their faith in public.

Furious, Henry III considered his response.

He was determined to declare war on his brother and the Prince of Condé.

But the catastrophic state of France's finances threatened to plunge the

into an unwinnable war.

You have no choice. You must relent and give way to your brother's demands.

I'll do my utmost to make him see reason.

Trust me, I beg you.

On February 3rd, 1576, the situation became even worse for King Henry.

Four months after his brother's escape, his brother -in -law Henry of Navarre

fled Paris while out hunting.

After four years, locked behind the walls of the Louvre, he rode to the

stronghold of Navarre and Albray, Merak.

Once safe, Navarre renounced Catholicism. After all, he was forced to

it, to save his own skin, after the St. Bartholomew's Massacre.

France was on the brink of chaos.

For Catherine de' Medici, it was now a matter of urgency to reconcile her sons.

She invited them to sign a peace agreement.

Preserved in the National Archives in Paris is the Edict of Beaulieu, better

known at the time as the Peace of Monsieur.

At the request of his brother, King Henry agreed to allow Protestants to

practice their faith throughout the kingdom.

Henry also agreed to give Francis a healthy pension, and the title Duke of

Anjou, the Peace of Monsieur, attracted the attention of Protestants throughout

Europe.

In their eyes, Francis was a hero.

Soon afterwards, Francis received a messenger from William of Nassau, Prince

Orange. leader of the Flemish rebels.

Your prince is offering me the crown of the Netherlands for an army?

William of Orange refused to accept the Spanish occupation of his country and

for the last ten years had been fighting for independence.

He wanted to enlist Francis' support.

He promised him the throne of the Netherlands if he agreed to help drive

Philip II of Spain.

This was a very tempting offer.

But the Flemish would have to wait for the hero they so desperately wanted.

Because in France, the Peace of Messier had unleashed the fury of the Catholics.

Catholic leagues began to spring up throughout the kingdom.

Nobles and peasants united in defense of their faith. Their single objective?

To overturn the Peace of Messier.

Henry of Guise was the leader of the Catholic League.

Ultra -Catholic and power -hungry, this young man of 27 years was hell -bent on

avenging the death of his father, Francis of Guise, who had been murdered

Protestants four years earlier.

Henry of Guise was so popular among Catholics that the King of France was

of him.

Propaganda pamphlets were regularly distributed, denouncing the weak and

House of Valois.

They claimed that the Guise, descendants of Charlemagne, were the legitimate

rulers of France, ready to lead the fight against heretics.

To crush the revolt, King Henry decided to make himself head of the Catholic

League and, to that end, ask his brother Francis for help.

Francis had every reason to help his brother the king.

After all, he was now titled rich and powerful.

Francis had forced the king to agree to Protestant worship throughout the

kingdom, but now acquiesced without protest.

On January 3rd, 1577, Henry III canceled the Peace of Monsieur.

Two religions would no longer be tolerant.

The king intended to totally purge his kingdom of heresy.

For the sixth time in 15 years, France was plunged into civil war.

On May 2nd, 1577, under the orders of Francis, Duke of Anjou, royalist troops

destroyed the Huguenot Bastion.

of Charité sur Loire. A month later, on June 12, 1577, the city of Issoir in

Auvergne was destroyed.

Three thousand innocent Protestants were murdered.

Francis, who had once defended the Huguenot cause, was now their sworn

At the Chateau de Chenonceau, where the royal court was based, Catherine de'

Medici organized a party to celebrate her son's reconciliation.

For the occasion, Chenonceau was renamed the Chateau of Good News.

I would like to raise my glass to this fabulous... The court was once again a

place of entertainment.

I'm glad you've seen fence, brother.

Who am I to contradict the king?

The Valois were now united against the Huguenots, but short of money. The

fighting had to stop.

With no clear winner six months into this latest religious war, Catholics and

Protestants were forced to make peace.

On September 14, 1577, a new agreement was signed.

It prohibited the formation of any form of league in the kingdom.

Officially, France was at peace.

But at court, Henry and Francis were very wary of one another.

Henry suspected his brother wanted to switch sides and secretly harbor designs

on the Dutch crown.

He knew the Flemish rebels had asked Francis to raise an army to free them

the Catholic Spanish occupation, which would plunge France into a war against

Spain.

To test his suspicions, The king decided to pay his brother a surprise visit in

the middle of the night.

What are you doing?

I know, my brother, that you intend to betray me.

Go on, search everything.

I forbid it.

I won't allow it.

You. Tell him to stop immediately.

You forbid it. You have no business here. These are my private quarters.

Get out of my room.

You may be the king, but I am the brother of the king. I deserve the

I deserve a little bit more regard, don't you? Stop that immediately, Henry.

Have you taken leave of your senses?

Mad with rage.

The king was sure he had found evidence of his brother's treachery.

But it was only a love letter from his mistress.

Nevertheless, Francis realized that his life was in serious danger.

Four days later, he fled through the window.

and headed for the Netherlands.

On the way, Francis of Anjou gathered together an army, and in July 1578 he

arrived in Mons, in what is now Belgium. But his supply of money was running

low, and he did not have enough to feed his men.

His half -starved army began to plunder the very towns and villages they were

meant to protect.

To the eyes of the Flemish, Francis was no longer the longed -for savior to

fight the King of Spain's armies.

A year after his escape, a contrite Francis returned to France.

I await your apology.

I pray that his highness, in his great mercy, will grant me forgiveness.

Henry III was furious.

His brother narrowly avoided starting a war between Spain and France.

But for the king's mother, her young son's mistakes were not her main

The most pressing matter was producing a Catholic heir to the throne for the

House of Valois, which had ruled France for 250 years.

But after four years, Henry's marriage was still childless.

If Francis, heir to the throne, was also to die without providing an heir, the

French crown would pass to the Protestant Henry of Navarre.

After all...

Henry of Navarre was the next in line to the throne.

He was a descendant of the Capetian kings and a cousin to the House of

Their most recent common ancestor dated back to the reign of King St. Louis.

So if Henry III couldn't produce a son and heir, then it was up to his brother

Francis.

Catherine de' Medici revived the marriage talk she began eight years

with the Queen of England, Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth was now 46.

Not old, but not young either by Tudor standard.

Her doctors assured Catherine de' Medici that she was still able to bear a

child. After months of diplomatic negotiations, Francis and Elizabeth were

officially meet.

On August 17, 1579, the younger brother of the King of France was ushered into

the Queen of England's presence.

Madam, I could not be more delighted to make your acquaintance.

Thank you for welcoming me. Charming, is he not?

Despite their great age difference, Elizabeth immediately fell under the

of Francis.

I am pleased to hear this.

The 24 -year -old Francis made up for his physical deformity with charm and

Elizabeth seemed bewitched.

Elizabeth nicknamed Francis

the Frog.

and declared that no man was ever more pleasant.

For two weeks, the couple were inseparable.

My queen.

Frog Prince.

I have had word from Paris.

I must leave immediately.

So soon?

Yes. Francis's visit was broken off abruptly when he heard news of the death

one of his friends. When will you return?

As soon as possible. I swear it. We shall meet again.

Farewell.

On August 29th, he left for France, from where he sent letters in English to

Elizabeth, which, it is said, could set water on fire.

On the brink of this troublesome sea, I kiss your feet.

Elizabeth was so sad at the departure of her French prince that she wrote a poem

entitled Words on the Departure of Monsieur.

I grieve and dare not show my discontent.

I love and yet am forced to seem to hate.

I do yet dare not say I never meant.

I am and not.

I freeze and yet am burned.

since from myself another self I turned.

Everything suggested that for the first time in her life, Elizabeth was

seriously considering marriage.

But the prospect of a foreign king was met with dismay by the English. They

threatened to rebel.

In the autumn, anti -French feeling was running high.

Pamphlets were circulating throughout the country.

In response, on September 27th, the Queen proclaimed that she would no

tolerate any insult to foreign princes, England's allies, and that she would

marry whoever she pleased.

But wedding plans between Elizabeth and Francis were suddenly put on hold by

events over 2 ,000 kilometers from London.

In 1580, Cardinal King Henry of Portugal died without an heir.

Every sovereign in Europe, including Catherine de' Medici, was eager to seize

the vacant throne.

But all were blindsided by a much stronger monarch, King Philip II of

He had long dreamed of uniting his kingdom with Portugal, using military

if necessary.

But to seize Portugal Philip II must first reassign some of his troops

in Flanders.

This left far fewer Spanish soldiers defending the Netherlands.

Francis of Anjou saw his chance and planned to profit from the situation.

Francis went to the aid of the Flemish.

After all, they had promised him their throne if he helped them overthrow

In 1581, he attacked Cambrai, a city in northern France ruled at the time

by the Spaniards.

The offensive was a success.

But once again, lack of money cut short Francis' march to the Spanish -ruled

Netherlands.

He turned to the French king for help.

But his request for assistance fell on deaf ears, both in France and in

Even Elizabeth, reluctant to get bogged down in a costly war against Spain,

refused to send money.

By mid -autumn, Francis could no longer feed his men.

They grew desperate.

On January 17, 1583, he ordered his troops to attack the citadel of Antwerp.

But inside the city, the furious blemish resolved to destroy the French invaders

once and for all.

Trapped in narrow alleyways, Francis' men were quickly defeated.

The

king's

brother managed to escape with his life, but abandoned his men to their fate.

More than a thousand soldiers died that day.

Hundreds more were captured.

The catastrophe of Antwerp was the death knell for Francis of Anjou's military

career.

For Francis, the defeat was too much to bear.

No sooner was he back home in France when he fell seriously ill.

Hello, brother.

On June 10, 1584, Francis died of tuberculosis.

He was 30 years old.

The next day in London, Elizabeth was given the news.

She reportedly wept for three whole weeks.

For six months, she was inconsolable and described herself to the French

ambassador as like a widow who has lost her husband.

In France, Catherine de' Medici, too, was devastated by the death of Francis.

With the passing of her youngest son, she knew that the future of the House of

Valois was now in peril.

If Henry III did not produce a son and heir, the next king of France would be

the Protestant Henry of Navarre.

The battle to save the Valois dynasty was about to begin.