Transcript French Wars of Religion 1562-1598

French Wars of Religion
1562-1598
#3 To what extent do political authorities influence the
course of the Protestant Reformation?
#8 Discuss the relationship between politics and
religion by examining the wars of religion. French wars
of religion and the Thirty Years War
Renewed Religious Struggle
• 1st half of 16th century
– Religious struggle in central Europe
• Lutheran want rights an religious freedom
•
– Peace of Augsburg
2nd half of 16th century
– Western Europe;
• Calvinist wanted recognition
• Political Struggle
– Catholics “One king, one law, one faith”
– Calvinists against absolute monarchies
Politiques held war in check
• Politiques
– Political unity over religious doctrine
– Tolerance and moderation
• Compromise (Anglican Church)
• Politique ruler
– Elizabeth I (England)
• NOT Mary I
– Rulers were more successful
Wars of Religion
• Internal and international conflicts
– Protestants vs. Catholics
• Political power in France, England, Netherlands
• War over religion
– French Wars 1562-1598
– 30 years war 1618-1648
Struggle for Political Pwer
1. French Protestants (Huguenots)
– Prosecute Protestants
•
HRE Charles V captured King Francis I
2. Protestant propaganda  arrests
– Edict of Fontainebleau  Inquisition for
Protestants
3. 3 Weak Kings (Mother: Catherine de
Medicis)
– Charles IX and Henry III
– Goal: Balance aristocrat and king power
Power Struggle for Monarchy
• Rise of nation-state, decrease in
aristocracy’s power, weak monarchy
• 3 Families wanted to bring strong
monarchy
– The Guises
• Most powerful, militant, reactionary, Created the
Catholic League
– Montmorency (Admiral Coligny) & Prince of
Conde
• Calvinism (Huguenots)
War began in 1562
• Guise killed Huguenots for
worshipping
– Huguenots were winning
• Henry Navarre
– Huguenot
– married Charles IX sister
• Catherine's Response: St. Bartholomew’s
Day Massacre
– Huguenots killed
– Promised to return to Catholicism
Catherine de
Medicis
St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
End of the Valois Kings
• Henry III turns to Huguenots to defeat
Catholic League (Guise Family)
– Henry Navarre (Bourbon) his heir  Henry IV
• What did the new King want?
– Peace
– Deal with Spain
• Wanted France to be Catholic and weak
– Religion (switched back and forth)
• Edict of Nantes
Was Henry IV a Politique?
Edict of Nantes
• 1598: Formal Religious Settlement
• France  Catholic
– Religious minorities freedom
• Freedom of public worship
• Right of assembly
• Problem: hot war became cold war
– Assassinated by Catholic Fanatic