At the onset of the War of the Three Henrys, Anne, appointed by Henry III, led royal troops against the king's arch-enemy, Henry of Navarre in Poitou. He suffered a defeat at the hands of the Huguenots at the Battle of Coutras and while trying to surrender was killed, as was his 18-year-old brother Charles, lord of Saint-Sauveur. He was childless and was succeeded as Duke of Joyeuse by another brother, François.