| The XIV and XV centuries will see these elaborated works almost completely destroyed during the "hundred years war" and the various religious wars that followed, bringing the monks efforts to almost nothing, first of all by lack of up keep of the dikes, then because of destruction by protestans fighting the catholic monks. Huguenot territory by choice, close by LA ROCHELLE, the Marais soon became a ugly battlefield where Henry IV troops often clashed with his catholic enemy.Towards the end of the conflict, the king, juging the extend of the desaster, and assured of a certain peace over the territory, looks for people capable of rebuilding the water systems of the Marais. The local Abbeys, the lords living in and nearby, the French kingdom itself have been all weakened by the bloody struggle and Dutch people, huguenot themselves, are seeked to move down and take over the monks'work. They bring along not only their skill (the consulting engineer Humphrey Bradley will be elevated to the rank of Dikes and Canals Master of France) but also provide the necessary money. Marais de Poitevin |  |