Battle of Vergt

Battle of Vergt
Part of First French War of Religion (1562-1563)
Blaise de Monluc, painted in the 1570s; badly injured in 1570, the dots indicate missing parts of his face
Date 9 October 1562 [a] Location Vergt, France Result Royalist Victory
Belligerents
France  Spain	Huguenots
Commanders and leaders
Blaise de Montluc Charles de Coucis	Symphorien de Duras De Bordet Pardaillon
Strength
5,000 French 5,000 Spanish	10,000-12,000
Casualties and losses
Minimal	1,800 to 2,000 [1]

The Battle of Vergt took place on 9 October 1562 during the first French War of Religion, between a Royalist army led by Blaise de Montluc and Huguenot rebels under Symphorien de Duras. The battle was a decisive Royalist victory, which destroyed Duras' army, and prevented him reinforcing Protestant forces in the Loire Valley led by Gaspard II de Coligny and Condé. As such, it is considered a turning point in the first French War of Religion.

When the war began in April 1562, Protestant rebels controlled much of Guyenne and Gascony, while Condé and Coligny quickly seized much of central France north of the Loire. Duras recruited around 10,000 reinforcements, but then wasted several months seeking to capture Bordeaux. On 9 October, he was surprised by Montluc near the village of Vergt and ordered a withdrawal to the safety of some nearby hills, unwilling to risk a pitched battle. Slowed by their artillery train, the Protestant rearguard was caught in the open by the superior Royalist cavalry, which broke through their formation. Duras escaped with the cavalry but lost most of his infantry.

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