Battles & Campaigns · 1569
Battle of Jarnac
Jarnac, Charente, France
What happened
Tavannes crossed the Charente River at night and surprised the Huguenot rearguard. Catholic troops pushed back Huguenot soldiers near Bassac, and Catholic cavalry got around the Huguenot horsemen. Condé was captured and killed, and Coligny's army retreated.
Why it matters
It was a Catholic victory, but most of the Huguenot army escaped and regrouped at Cognac and Saintes.
What came next
Coligny won at La Roche-l'Abeille in June, but the Catholics won more decisively at Moncontour in October.
Did you know?
The young Englishman Walter Raleigh fought on the Huguenot side.
Timeline
- 19 Dec 1562Battle of Dreux.
- 13 Mar 1569Battle of Jarnac.
- 25 Jun 1569Battle of La Roche-l'Abeille.
- 3 Oct 1569Battle of Moncontour.