Battle of Jarnac

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Jarnac


caption=
date=March 13, 1569
place=Bassac, a town
outside of Jarnac, France
result=Catholic Victory,
Death of Condé
combatant1=Catholics
combatant2=Huguenots
commander1=Henry of Anjou,
Sieur de Tavanne
commander2=Louis II de Condé,
Gaspard de Coligny
strength1=?
strength2=?
casualties1=?
casualties2=?|

The Battle of Jarnac was an encounter during the French Wars of Religion that occurred on March 13, 1569 between the Catholic forces of Marshal Gaspard de Saulx, sieur de Tavannes, and the Huguenots financed by Reinhold von Krockow (who was wounded in the battle) and led by Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé, who was killed in the encounter. The forces met outside Jarnac on the right bank of the Charente River between the cities of Angoulême and Cognac. Marshal Gaspard de Tavannes was successful in defeating the Huguenots due to his execution of surprise attacks. The Huguenots were ultimately defeated with their leaders both captured in the fray and murdered in the aftermath. Under the leadership of Gaspard de Coligny, however, a significant portion of the Huguenot army managed to escape.

Aftermath

On June 25, the two armies met again at the Battle of La Roche-l'Abeille, leading to a Protestant victory. The Battle of Moncontour in October of the same year would provide the Catholics with a more definitive victory. Minor participants on the Huguenot side were the English volunteer Walter Raleigh and Louis of Nassau.