http://www.tomrichey.net The French Wars of Religion were a series of armed conflicts between French Catholics and Huguenots (Calvinists) in the sixteenth century. The Catholic faction was led by Catherine de Medici and the Huguenots were led by Henry of Navarre, who would later become Henry IV of France. Upon becoming king, Henry converted to Catholicism ("Paris is worth a Mass.") and issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted Huguenots limited toleration and rights to practice their religion openly in certain cities.