At one point in history, France had around 2,000 Huguenot churches spread across the kingdom. The Huguenots, who were French Protestants, were able to worship openly for two main reasons. First, the monarchy largely ignored them, choosing not to take action against their religious practices. Second, they had the protection of the powerful Bourbon family, who supported their cause. However, not everyone in France accepted this religious freedom. The powerful Guise family, who were strong Catholics, were frustrated with the king for not taking a firm stand against the Huguenots. They believed that France should be strictly Catholic and saw the growing influence of Protestantism as a serious threat.

Instead of waiting for the king to act, the Guise family started making their own plans. Their ultimate goal was to take control of the throne so they could restore what they called "true Catholicism" in France. To do this, they secretly communicated with Philip II of Spain, one of the most powerful Catholic rulers in Europe. Spain had already been fighting against Protestant movements, and Philip II was eager to help the Guise family in their mission. The Guise also worked closely with the newly formed Jesuit Order. The Jesuits were a group of Catholic priests who had been specially assigned to fight against Protestant beliefs. They followed the instructions of the Council of Trent, a major Catholic meeting that laid out strict policies for stopping the spread of Protestantism. With support from both Spain and the Jesuits, the Guise family felt confident that they could take action against the Huguenots and change the course of France’s religious future.

Meanwhile, the king had his own priorities. Instead of focusing on the religious conflicts within his kingdom, he was more concerned with strengthening his personal power and increasing his wealth. He wanted to build an absolute monarchy, where he had complete control over the government without interference from nobles or religious groups. This growing tension between the different factions in France the Huguenots, the Guise family, and the monarchy would eventually lead to serious conflicts. The struggle between Protestant and Catholic forces, combined with political ambitions, set the stage for a period of religious wars and power struggles that would shape France’s history for years to come.