French Wars of Religion

'This volume of documents represents an excellent handbook for the student interested in exploring and understanding the Wars of Religion, either as part of a survey course or at a more specialist level. As such, it also provides a welcome relief to those trying to teach the wars who, to date, have been hampered by the lack of sources available in English.' - Penny Roberts, French History Springer Book Archives

This book aims to provide the means to study the French wars of religion through contemporary sources and translations of documents concerning communal violence, political confrontation and war. Each section is accompanied by a commentary to guide the reader through the translated documents.This book aims - through translations of key documents concerning communal religious violence, political confrontation and war - to provide the means to study the French Wars of Religion through the most important contemporary sources.

Documents include: key legislative acts of the period from the edicts concerning religion and toleration in 1560-62 to the 1590s; sources on types of religious violence during the early years of the wars; a detailed examination of the massacre of Saint Bartholomew; and the breakdown of royal authority in the 1580s and its restoration by Henry IV.

Each section is accompanied by a commentary which guides the reader through the documents translated.