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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 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.

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Aftermath

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. A minor participant was the English volunteer Walter Raleigh.