french wars of religion seemed an unlikely place for religious war henry ii accidentally killed...
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French Wars of Religion• Seemed an unlikely
place for religious war
• Henry II accidentally killed
• Catherine de’ Medici dominated (1519-89)
French Wars of Religion•Concerned by growth of Calvinism, French kings persecuted them
•Huguenots came from all levels of society
French Wars of Religion
•It is possible that 40-50% of the nobility became Huguenots
•Constituted for apprx. 10% of population
French Wars of Religion• Extreme Catholic party
—known as the ultra-Catholics– Led by Guise family– Had loyalty of Paris, and N./N.E. France
– Ironically the Guise family posed a threat to the Catholic Valois dynasty
French Wars of Religion• Wars erupted in
1562: duke of Guise massacred peaceful congregation
• During the 1560s: Huguenots were too small a group to conquer France, but could not be defeated either
French Wars of Religion• “Compromise”: marriage of
reigning Valois king Charles IX’s sister to Henry of Navarre (Bourbon ruler of Navarre)
• Many traveled to Paris for wedding
• Guise family persuaded king & his mother that Huguenots posed a threat
French Wars of Religion• St Bartholomew's
Day Massacre: began early on August 24, 1572– King’s guards
killed prominent Huguenot leaders
– Unleashed wave of violence
– Lasted about 3 days
– Approx. 3,000 Huguenots dead
French Wars of Religion-War of the 3 Henries
• Current ruler was Henry III (1574-89), succeeded brother—Charles IX
• Ultra Catholics wanted to place Henry duke of Guise on throne–Seized Paris (through the pay of Philip II) & forced Henry III to make him chief minister
French Wars of Religion-War of the 3 Henries
• Henry III assassinated duke of Guise, joined with Henry Navarre (returned to Calvinism) who was next in line to the throne
• Henry III assassinated in 1589
• Henry Navarre claimed throne (converted back to Catholicism)
French Wars of Religion• Edict of Nantes (1598):
–Acknowledged Catholicism as official religion of France but,
–Guaranteed Huguenots right to worship in selected places
–Huguenots could enjoy all political privileges
Philip II & Spain• Philip II ( 1556-98)
– Son of Charles V– Inherited Spain,
Netherlands, possessions in Italy & New World
– Aggressively used the Inquisition
– Palace: El Escorial•Demonstrated his power & faith
Philip II & Spain
•Wanted to make Spain a dominant power in Europe
• Importation of silver was detrimental: spiraling inflation–Did not have a true middle class
Philip II & Spain• War (especially
after 1580) was devastating to the economy
• Philip II in many ways led to the decline of Spain
Philip II & Spain•“Most Catholic king”
**became champion of Catholicism throughout Europe -led to several great victories (Lepanto 1571), but equally great defeats (Elizabeth I)
Revolt in the Netherlands• One of the richest parts of Philip’s
empire• Netherlands: consisted of 17 provinces
– 7 Northern were largely Germanic in culture and Dutch speaking
– 10 Southern: French and Flemish speaking, tied to France
Revolt in the Netherlands• b/c of location,
Netherlands had many religious influences: Lutheranism, Anabaptists, and Calvinism
• Did not have real political bond, except common ruler: Philip II
Revolt in the Netherlands
• Philip wanted to strengthen his control
• This was opposed by nobles, towns, etc. who stood to lose politically
• Resentment intensified when the Dutch realized the taxes they paid were used for Spanish interests
Revolt in the Netherlands• Religion became a
major catalyst for revolt:–Philip II wanted to reorganize the structure of the Dutch Catholic Church
–Also wanted to crush heresy
Revolt in the Netherlands
• Violence erupted in 1566: Calvinists (especially nobles) destroyed statues/stained glass windows in Catholic churches
• Philip II responded by sending duke of Alba with (approximately) 10,000 troops to crush the rebellion
Revolt in the Netherlands• Duke of Alba: oppressive
—levied a permanent sales tax, alienating merchants & commoners– They joined with the
nobles and Calvinists, against Spanish rule
– Duke was removed in 1573
• Council of Troubles:– Nicknamed by the Dutch
as Council of Blood– Created reign of terror
Revolt in the Netherlands• William of Orange
emerged as the resistance leader
• William of Orange wanted to unify all 17 provinces– 1576, Pacification of
Ghent: 1.)said that all provinces would stand together under W. of O, 2.)respect religious differences, & 3.)demand Spanish troops be removed
Revolt in the Netherlands• Duke of Parma: next
Spanish leader– Played upon the religious
differences of the provinces, splitting them
• Union of Arras – Southern Provinces– 1579, formed a Catholic
union – accepted Spanish rule
Revolt in the Netherlands• Union of Utrecht
– Organized by William of Orange
– Northern- Dutch speaking Provinces
– Opposed Spanish rule– Wanted to organize
under France or Elizabeth I—neither worked
• Netherlands now divided along religious, geographical, and political lines
Revolt in the Netherlands•Even though
Elizabeth I refused to lead the N. Provinces, she did assist them militarily
•Struggle in the Dutch area continued after both Philip II and Elizabeth I had died
Revolt in the Netherlands• 1609: Twelve Years’
Truce in the Netherlands– Virtually recognized
the independence of the N. provinces
– “United Provinces” emerged as the Dutch Republic— Spanish did not recognize them until 1648
– Southern provinces remained a Spanish possession
Elizabeth I• Daughter of Anne
Boleyn & Henry VIII
• Cleaned up Mary I’s “mess”
• Catholics were majority when she took the crown– R efused marriage to Philip II
Elizabeth I• Queen Mary of Scots
– Had legitimate claim to the English throne
– Had to flee Scotland– Lived under house
arrest in England– Had plots to
assassinate Elizabeth•Elizabeth I beheaded her
Elizabeth I• Spain and England
– Philip II wanted to invade England•Elizabeth I was helping in the Dutch region
•Elizabeth beheaded Mary of Scots
•Philip II’s advisers claimed the people of England would rise against their queen
Elizabeth I
• 1588--Spanish fleet , battered on numerous occasions, were forced to sail north around Scotland
• Defeat of Spanish Armada ensured England would be Protestant– Psychological
blow to Spaniards
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• Often called last of
the “religious wars”– However, as war
continued it was clear that dynastic-nationalist considerations were more important
• Historians view it as a struggle b/w the Bourbons and Hapsburgs (HRE & Spain)
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• Background to the War
– 1.)Since beginning of 16th c., France felt “encircled” by Hapsburgs
– 2.) Spain saw 12 year truce with Netherlands (1609) as temporary…wanted to regain control
– 3.) Austrian Hapsburgs wished to consolidate their holdings & eliminate Protestantism…also H R Emperors were frustrated by lack of power
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• Beginnings:
– During the early 17th century Elector Frederick IV (a Calvinist) formed a league of German States into the Protestant Union•Gained support of
Dutch , English, and French
– To counteract: a Catholic League of German States was formed by Duke Maximilian•Gained support of
Spain & HRE
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• Historians historically
have divided the 30 yrs. War into 4 phases: – PHASE # 1: Bohemian
phase (1618-25)•1617: Bohemian Estates (mostly nobles) accepted Archduke Ferdinand as their king
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)– PHASE # 1: Bohemian
phase (1618-25) cont.•Ferdinand tried to “re-catholicize” Bohemia…making the Protestant nobility upset
•Protestant nobility rebelled in 1618
•Rebels deposed Ferdinand, replaced with Elector Frederick V
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• PHASE # 1: Bohemian
phase (1618-25) cont.– Meanwhile,
Ferdinand was elected H R Emperor
– With the help of the Catholic League, imperial forces defeated Frederick (& the Bohemians) @ the Battle of White Mountain (Nov. 8, 1620)
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)**PHASE # 1: Bohemian
phase (1618-25) cont.– Spain took advantage
of Frederick’s weakness, gained western parts of the Palatinate
– Ferdinand confiscated Protestant lands, and Catholicism was the sole religion
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• PHASE # 2: Danish Phase
(1625-29)– King Christian IV of
Denmark (a Lutheran) invaded northern Germany (on behalf of the Protestant cause & he would gain lands that would give him control of the southern Baltic)
– Imperial forces led by Albrecht von Wallenstein
– Christian IV soundly defeated
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• PHASE # 2: Danish
Phase (1625-29) cont.– Christian IV’s defeat
meant end of Danish involvement in 30 yrs. War & Danish Supremacy in the Baltic
– Ferdinand was at his height of power• Issued Edict of Restitution
(1629):prohibited Calvinist worship, & gave back Catholic lands that were taken by Protestants in the last 75 yrs.
•Wallenstein was dismissed
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• PHASE # 3: Swedish
Phase (1630-35)– Gustavus Adolphus,
king of Sweden, received financial support from France
– Motivated by gaining complete control of the Baltic Sea & religion ( he was a Lutheran), Adolphus brought his army into northern Germany
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• PHASE # 3: Swedish
Phase (1630-35) cont.– Imperial forces
recalled Wallenstein
– @ Battle of Lutzen: Swedish forces won…but Adolphus was killed
– Wallenstein was assassinated in 1634
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• PHASE # 3:
Swedish Phase (1630-35) cont.– Imperial forces won
Battle of Nordlingen, guaranteeing southern Germany would be Catholic
– H R Emperor tried to make peace with the German princes and revoked the 1629 Edict of Restitution
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)
• PHASE # 4: Franco-Swedish Phase (1635-48) – By this time religious
issues lost significance, dynastic powers were more important
– Catholic French were supporting Protestant Swedes against Catholic Hapsburgs of Germany & Spain
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• PHASE # 4: Franco-Swedish
Phase (1635-48) cont.– Most decisive battle:
Battle of Rocroi (1643), France beat Spain…ending Spanish military greatness
– War in Germany officially ended with Peace of Westphalia (1648)•War b/w France and Spain continued until 1659 w/ the Peace of the Pyrenees
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• Results of the 30 yrs.
War:– 1.)Ensured all German
States were free to determine own religion
– 2.)France gained Western parts of Germany, now controlling the Franco-Germanic border (which will become excellent military bases in the future)
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)• Results of the 30 yrs.
War:– 3.)Austrian Hapsburgs
saw authority as rulers of Germany further diminish
– 4.)the more than 300 states that made up the HRE were virtually independent, bringing an end to the HRE as a political entity
– 5.) made clear that religion and politics are separate worlds (pope excluded from all decisions @ Westphalia