Battle of La Roche-l'Abeille
Encyclopedia
The Battle of La Roche-l'Abeille occurred on 25 June 1569 between the Catholic forces of King Charles IX of France
commanded by the Duke d’Anjou
and the Huguenots commanded by the Admiral de Coligny during the "Third War" (1568–1570) of the French Wars of Religion
.
. This army had laid siege to several cities in the Poitou
region, and then Angoulême
and Cognac
. At the Battle of Jarnac
(16 March 1569), the Prince de Condé was killed, forcing Admiral de Coligny to take command.
In order to attack the royal army, Coligny directed the Protestant army toward the Limousin
region, hoping thus to regroup with 14,000 mercenaries being led by the Duke of Zweibrücken
and financed by Queen Elizabeth of England. After a brief fight with a detachment of the royal army, the Duke of Zweibrücken was able to cross the Vienne at Aixe
, but died on 11 June at Nexon
. The Protestant army and the Duke of Zweibrücken's mercenaries were able to regroup at Châlus
, for a total of 25,000 men.
The royal army of 29,500 troops, led by the Duke d’Anjou
(the future Henry III) were stationed before Saint-Yrieix
to protect the city.
region. The Protestant army took few prisoners, the most famous being the colonel-general Philippe Strozzi.
In the days that followed, the Protestant army massacred hundreds of people throughout the Limousin
and Périgord regions, including 500 infantry men at La Roche-l'Abeille and 250 peasants at La Chapelle-Faucher
, as retribution for the death of Condé and Paulon de Mauvans.
That fall, the Battle of Moncontour
(October 30, 1569) would see the Huguenots defeated and Catholic forces participating in similar massacres against the defeated.
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
commanded by the Duke d’Anjou
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
and the Huguenots commanded by the Admiral de Coligny during the "Third War" (1568–1570) of the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
.
Background
The Third War of Religion saw an uprising of the Protestants and the creation of an army under the command of Louis I de Bourbon, prince de CondéLouis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis de Bourbon was a prominent Huguenot leader and general, the founder of the House of Condé, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon.-Life:...
. This army had laid siege to several cities in the Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
region, and then Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
and Cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
. At the Battle of Jarnac
Battle of Jarnac
The Battle of Jarnac on 13 March 1569 was an encounter during the French Wars of Religion between the Catholic forces of Marshal Gaspard de Saulx, sieur de Tavannes, and the Huguenots, near the nadir of their fortunes, financed by Reinhold von Krockow and led by Louis I de Bourbon, prince de...
(16 March 1569), the Prince de Condé was killed, forcing Admiral de Coligny to take command.
In order to attack the royal army, Coligny directed the Protestant army toward the Limousin
Limousin (province)
Limousin is one of the traditional provinces of France around the city of Limoges. Limousin lies in the foothills of the western edge of the Massif Central, with cold weather in the winter...
region, hoping thus to regroup with 14,000 mercenaries being led by the Duke of Zweibrücken
Wolfgang, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken
Count Palatine Wolfgang of Zweibrücken was member of the Wittelsbach family of the Counts Palatine and Duke of Zweibrücken 1532–1559.-Biography:...
and financed by Queen Elizabeth of England. After a brief fight with a detachment of the royal army, the Duke of Zweibrücken was able to cross the Vienne at Aixe
Aixe-sur-Vienne
Aixe-sur-Vienne is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in western France.-External links:*...
, but died on 11 June at Nexon
Nexon, Haute-Vienne
Nexon is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in west-central France.Inhabitants are known as Nexonnais.-References:*...
. The Protestant army and the Duke of Zweibrücken's mercenaries were able to regroup at Châlus
Châlus
Châlus is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in western France.-History:Châlus' is where Richard I of England was wounded by a crossbow bolt and killed as a result of the wound...
, for a total of 25,000 men.
The royal army of 29,500 troops, led by the Duke d’Anjou
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
(the future Henry III) were stationed before Saint-Yrieix
Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in west-central France.Its name refers to Saint Yrieix .Inhabitants are known as Arédiens.-References:*...
to protect the city.
The battle
The Protestant army surprised the royal troops, and this gave them the initial advantage. The colonel-general of the royal infantry, Philippe Strozzi, was however able to temporarily save the situation, before an attack by Coligny – threatening to encircle the army – forced the royal troops to retreat before the Protestants.Aftermath
Coligny's victory was far from being decisive, but it allowed him to open a route toward the PérigordPérigord
The Périgord is a former province of France, which corresponds roughly to the current Dordogne département, now forming the northern part of the Aquitaine région. It is divided into four regions, the Périgord Noir , the Périgord Blanc , the Périgord Vert and the Périgord Pourpre...
region. The Protestant army took few prisoners, the most famous being the colonel-general Philippe Strozzi.
In the days that followed, the Protestant army massacred hundreds of people throughout the Limousin
Limousin (province)
Limousin is one of the traditional provinces of France around the city of Limoges. Limousin lies in the foothills of the western edge of the Massif Central, with cold weather in the winter...
and Périgord regions, including 500 infantry men at La Roche-l'Abeille and 250 peasants at La Chapelle-Faucher
La Chapelle-Faucher
La Chapelle-Faucher is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.This small but quaint rural French village has a romanesque style church, Notre Dame de l'Assomption built in the 12th century, a rambling ancient chateau overlooking the Cole River built in the 13th...
, as retribution for the death of Condé and Paulon de Mauvans.
That fall, the Battle of Moncontour
Battle of Moncontour
The Battle of Moncontour occurred on 3 October 1569 between the Catholic forces of King Charles IX of France and the Huguenots during the "Third War" of the French Wars of Religion.-The battle:...
(October 30, 1569) would see the Huguenots defeated and Catholic forces participating in similar massacres against the defeated.