 Upon hearing (inaccurately) that she limped because of a varicose vein, he called her an "old creature with a sore leg".Prior to ascending the French throne in 1574, Henry served as a leader of the royal army in the French Wars of Religion, taking part in the victories over Huguenots at the Battle of Jarnac (March 1569) and at the Battle of Moncontour (October 1569).While still Duke of Anjou, he helped plot the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572.