The Counter Reformation Religious Wars and Conflict

What Happened? Why did it happen? There were many political events that fueled The Italian Wars. In 1494 a little before Michelangelo sculpted the Pieta and Savonarola was executed, King Charles VIII invaded Italy. From 1524-1525 there was a revolt in southern and western Germany. Peasants rose angry because of some of the false facts of Lutheran Reformation. The peasants were furious because they said that some of the facts were not in the law of god and the church was not treating them fairly. There was a massive decline in the Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation encouraged independent states and nations. Rulers and merchants wanted the church to be less involved in business and state affairs. All these events led to disagreement and conflict between Italy, France, and Spain for control of the Italian peninsula which then led to the Italian wars.

Where did it happen? The Counter Reformation Wars took place in Germany and Italy. King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy This began wars of Spain and France trying to get the Italian peninsula The thirty years war Protestants revolt against the Catholics Ends after a few treaties The English Civil war stated due to religious conflicts The wars were in Germany and Italy because Italy is where the head of Catholicism is held and Germany is very Protestant.

What was the end result? • The Italian Wars officially ended in 1559. • The Italian Wars was credited with expanding the Renaissance across Europe. • The Renaissance was spread due to the soldiers returning home with new ideas. • In Germany peasants were angry because of the high taxes and their lack of power so a rebellion occurred and thousands of peasants attacked castles and monasteries. This rebellion was known as the “Peasants War.” • In France there were conflicts with religion. • Huguenots and the Protestants fought against the Catholics for years and finally ended when the Huguenots and Protestants leader named Henry of Navarre converted to Catholicism. • When he converted it led to religious stability and allowed any religion.

Who was Involved?

Conclusion The wars were strongly influenced by the religious change of the period and the conflict and rivalry that it produced. Nevertheless, the combatants cannot be neatly categorized by religion, nor were they divided by religion alone.

Works Cited Holt World History. my. hrw. com/tabnav/controller. jsp Works Cited Holt World History. my.hrw.com/tabnav/controller.jsp?isbn=0030937752. "Italian Wars." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, www.britannica.com/event/Italian-Wars. "The Reformation." History, www.history.com/topics/reformation. "The Reformation and Wars of Religion." Liberty, www.libertymagazine.org/article/the-reformation-and-wars-of-religion.