Greg Jenner

We do now have the French wars of religion.

We do now have the French wars of religion.

And these are incredibly serious. And we are a comedy show, so we can't be too flippant here. But they kill over two million people.

And these are incredibly serious. And we are a comedy show, so we can't be too flippant here. But they kill over two million people.

Three decades short, but millions of people die in these wars of religion between Catholic factions and Huguenots. And Catherine's... sort of reign. I mean, she doesn't reign, but she's ruling.

Three decades short, but millions of people die in these wars of religion between Catholic factions and Huguenots. And Catherine's... sort of reign. I mean, she doesn't reign, but she's ruling.

She rules.

She rules.

We have to now put this into the context of the time, right? So we have this horrible series of wars that last for 30 years, but they don't initially last for 30 years. They last for one year initially, and then there's a peace treaty.

We have to now put this into the context of the time, right? So we have this horrible series of wars that last for 30 years, but they don't initially last for 30 years. They last for one year initially, and then there's a peace treaty.

Yeah, it's expensive, it's terrifying, you can't trust who's on your team. Exactly. You don't want wars ever. So we have a horrible massacre in 1562 at Vassy.

Yeah, it's expensive, it's terrifying, you can't trust who's on your team. Exactly. You don't want wars ever. So we have a horrible massacre in 1562 at Vassy.

The Duke of Guise is then assassinated on Orléans in 1563. There's a peace treaty, the Edict of Amboise.

The Duke of Guise is then assassinated on Orléans in 1563. There's a peace treaty, the Edict of Amboise.

And then that treaty does not last at all. And this war continues until 1598. So from 1562 to 1598. This is the political context in the middle of Catherine's rule is horrifying wars between... And her sons, yeah.

And then that treaty does not last at all. And this war continues until 1598. So from 1562 to 1598. This is the political context in the middle of Catherine's rule is horrifying wars between... And her sons, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. So it's expensive, it's devastating, it's horrific. The horrifying event, the key event, is called St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. It's in 1572.

Yeah, yeah. So it's expensive, it's devastating, it's horrific. The horrifying event, the key event, is called St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. It's in 1572.

Catherine is often blamed for this.

Catherine is often blamed for this.