In order to attack the royal army, Coligny directed the Protestant army toward the Limousin region, hoping thus to regroup with 14,000 mercenaries being led by the Duke of Zweibrücken () and financed by Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Coligny directed the Protestant army towards the Limousin region with the intention of joining 14,000 mercenary forces commanded by Duke Zweibrücken and supported by Queen Elizabeth I of England.