Henry II of France was not involved with the cause of a war about religion.
French Renaissance literature . After Henry II 's unfortunate death in a joust , the country was ruled by his widow Catherine de ' Medici and her sons Francis II , Charles IX and Henry III , and although the Renaissance continued to flourish , the French Wars of Religion between Huguenots and Catholics ravaged the country . Henry II of England . Henry soon came into conflict with Louis VII and the two rulers fought what has been termed a `` cold war '' over several decades . Henry II of France . Henry pursued his father 's policies in matter of arts , wars and religion . He was succeeded in turn by three of his sons , whose ineffective reigns helped to spark the French Wars of Religion between Protestants and Catholics .