cavalry forces was to the advantage of the King of Navarre. The Duke of Joyeuse launched a charge at full gallop; by the time they came into contact, his horses were exhausted, and his squadrons of lancers had lost cohesion, rendering them ineffective. For his part, Henry of Navarre adopted an innovative tactic in the disposition of his troops: he inserted the platoons of musketeers (five men abreast) within cavalry squadrons, to improve their support. The charge of the Protestants chevau-légers ('light or medium cavalry') broke the Royalist army, which was routed. The Duke of Joyeuse was defeated, captured, and killed by a pistol shot. 2,000 Catholics were also captured along with Anne's younger brother, Claude Joyeuse (1569-1587), lord of Saint-Sauveur and Jacques d'Amboise, the eldest of the branch of Amboise-d'Aubijoux. Victory went to the Protestants, led by Henry of Navarre. He recovered the body of Joyeuse and attended a mass in honour of his slain enemies. See also French Wars of Religion References Sources Pierre Miquel, Les Guerres de religion, Club France Loisirs, 1980 (), p 342-344 Pierre de Vayssiére, Messieurs de Joyeuse (1560-1615 ), Paris, Albin Michel, 1926 There is a detailed account of the battle in Garrett Mattingly's The Armada''. External links Histoire de la Ligue par Maimbourg - Paris -1684 History of Aquitaine Battles of the French Wars of Religion Battles in Nouvelle-Aquitaine 1587 in France Conflicts in 1587 History of Gironde