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