The Wars of Religion (1560s-1648) Original Source: Ms. Susan M. Pojer Edited by: Mr. Stepek Original Source: Ms. Susan M. Pojer

French Wars of Religion (1562-1598)

The Valois Family: The Tumble into Chaos Henri II was the last powerful Valois Ruling dynasty (1328 – 1589) Died from lance to the eye socket Three weak sons followed: Francis II Charles IX Henri III Catherine de Medici controlled the sons: mother to the weak kings played both sides in the civil wars ultimate politique developed a reputation for ruthlessness

Catherine de Medici

Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots) (also a niece of the Guise family) Francis II & His Wife, Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots) (also a niece of the Guise family)

The French Wars of Religion Two sides w/the monarchy (Valois) stuck in middle: Guise family led Catholics in North Bourbon family led Huguenots in South Fighting for the royal inheritance Catherine supported the Guises in the first phase. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (August 24, 1572) Huguenots in Paris for wedding of Henry of Navarre (Bourbon) to Margaret Valois 20,000 Huguenots were killed Henry of Navarre survived

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Protestant Union (Henry of War of the Three Henrys Catherine shifted support to the Bourbons. She feared Guise power grab from her son Henry III (Valois) Henry of Navarre defeated Catholic League & becomes Henry IV of France. Catholic League (Henry I of Guise) CIVIL WAR Protestant Union (Henry of Navarre)

Triumphal Entry of Henry IV Into Paris – Peter Paul Reubens

Henry IV of France Passed Edict of Nantes in 1598: Ended Spanish interference in France “beginning of the end” for Spain’s “Golden Era” After defeat of Spanish Armada France eclipses Spain as most powerful continental European state at end of Thirty Years’ War. Converted to Catholicism: compromise and make peace “Paris is worth a mass.” This was an example of politique [the interest of the state comes first before any religious ideology] Passed Edict of Nantes in 1598: Granted religious rights to Huguenots allowed private worship not public (especially in Paris) attend universities can maintain fortified towns Did not give religious freedom to all

The Spanish Hapsburgs & Europe (1556) Philip II controls Iberia, the Low Countries Milan and Southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica at the end of the 16c.

Decline of Spanish Power Influx of silver and gold is a good thing, right? Nope! causes inflation Leads to income inequality Nobles lead lives of leisure (work is considered undignified) while peasants are overtaxed as a result small middle class Jews and Moors expelled Spain spends wealth in places where there is middle-class production. funnels money to enemies in France, England, and the Dutch Republic. Spends huge sums defending Christianity in costly wars Colonies become costly to run Crown is bankrupt 4x in late 1500s Decline of Spanish Power

The Spanish Netherlands: Union of Utrecht, 1579 Dutch Calvinists est. The United Provinces 1581 declare independence. iconoclastic “1st truly capitalist economy” Eighty Years’ War Dutch independence officially recognized with Peace of Münster with the Treaty of Westphalia at end of Thirty Years’ War. Beginning of Dutch Golden Age

The Netherlands (1609 and today)

Elizabethan Settlement In response to religious divisions exacerbated by predecessors Act of Supremacy of 1558 “I’m in charge not the Pope!” “Supreme Governor” Act of Conformity of 1559 Book of Common Prayer Moderate Protestantism mixed with traditional Catholic teachings Via media or “the Middle Road” At beginning of reign Catholic resistance most troubling Mary Queen of Scots personifies executed 1587 angers European Catholics At end of reign Puritans are more of a challenge Want to rid Church of England of Catholic influences. Rivalry with Anglicans becomes one of the causes of the English Civil War Elizabethan Settlement

The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

1618-1648

Characteristics of the Thirty Years War The Holy Roman Empire was the battleground. Many countries/leaders want to seize land and influence in Germany since it is at the crossroads of European trade. Easy to do since HRE is politically fragmented. At the beginning  it was the Catholics vs. the Protestants. At the end  it was Habsburg power that was threatened. Resolved by the Treaty of Westphalia (1648).

The Bohemian Phase: 1618-1622 Ferdinand II inherited Bohemia. The Bohemians hated him. Despite Peace of Augsburg, Ferdinand refused to tolerate Protestants. Defenestration of Prague May, 1618 Bohemia named a new king, Frederick II. Calvinist king of Palatinate

The Bohemian Phase: 1618-1622 Ferdinand II becomes Holy Roman Emperor. Relies on Polish, Bavarian and Spanish support. Frederick Relies on English and Dutch support Frederick loses, ends up losing most of his land. But, the rebellion in Bohemia inspired others.

Bohemian Phase

The Danish Phase: 1625-1629 Ferdinand II tried to end all resistance. Tried to crush Protestants in northern HREmpire. used Albrecht von Wallenstein for the army. Wallenstein defeated Protestants in north. Edict of Restitution (1629): Restored to Catholics all lands lost since 1552. Hapsburgs seem on verge of consolidating power in Central Europe Neither of these were going to happen

Danish Phase

Albrecht von Wallenstein

The Swedish Phase: 1630-1635 France & Sweden now get involved. Both want to stop Habsburg power. Sweden led the charge. France provided support. Gustavus Adolphus invaded the HR Empire. Ferdinand II brought back Wallenstein. Swedish advance was stopped. German princes still feared Ferdinand II. Wallenstein assassinated to appease them.

Swedish Phase

Gustavus Adolphus

The French Phase: 1635-1648 France now takes active role. Acts like a politique on the state scale Decides that preventing a unified Germany under Hapsburg control is MORE important than Catholicism. Most European powers now participated. This phase was most destructive! German towns decimated. Agriculture collapsed  famine resulted. 8 million dead  1/3 of the population [from 21 million in 1618 to 13.5 million in 1648] Caused massive inflation. Trade was crippled throughout Europe.

Loss of German Lives in 30 Years’ War

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) Political Provisions: Each Ger. prince became free from any kind of control by the HR Emperor. The United Provinces [Dutch Neths.] became officially independent  southern part (Belgium) remained a Sp. possession. France rcvd. most of the German-speaking province of Alsace. Sweden  got lands in Northern Germany on the Baltic & Black Sea coasts. Switzerland became totally independent of the HR Emperor  Swiss Confederation. Brandenburg got important territories on North Sea & in central Germany. Prussia becomes rival of Austria in Germany

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) Religious Provisions: Calvinists would have the same privileges as the Lutherans had in the Peace of Augsburg. The ruler of each state could determine its official religion, BUT [except in the hereditary lands of the Habsburgs], he must permit freedom of private worship.

Treaty of Westphalia (1648)

1688-1700

Nobody Was Happy! Many Protestants felt betrayed. The pope denounced it. Only merit  it ended the fighting in a war that became intolerable! For the next few centuries, this war was blamed for everything that went wrong in Central Europe.