Age of Religious Wars(1546s-1648) Victor Valley High School Mrs. Tucker AP European History Victor Valley High School

Main Points The French wars of religion between Catholics and Calvinists. Spanish struggle against Dutch independence in the Netherlands. The struggle between Catholic Spain and Protestant England. The course of the Thirty Years’ War and the devastation of central Europe.

Struggle The Peace of Augsburg recognized Lutheranism as a legal religion in the Holy Roman Empire in 1555. For the remainder of the 16th century, religious strife centered on the conflict between Calvinism and Catholicism. Calvinism and Catholicism both were dogmatic, aggressive, and irreconcilable. Even the art and architecture of the Catholic Counter-Reformation, with its baroque energy, stands in marked contrast to Protestant restraint. Slowly some intellectuals – and a very few political leaders – came to adopt a more skeptical, tolerant view of religion, but in the meantime the Thirty Years' War between 1618-1648 drew every nation of Europe into some degree of religious conflict.

The French Wars The rulers of France repeatedly cracked down on France's Protestant Huguenots, particularly in the second half of the 16th century. After the accidental death of King Henry II, the French monarchy was weak. Meanwhile, although Calvinists made up only a small part of the population, France's Calvinists included much of the aristocracy. Catherine de Medicis, who exercised power during the reigns of three of her sons between 1559 and 1589, attempted with only some success to play Catholics and Huguenots off against each other. In 1593, a few years after the Bourbon Huguenot Henry of Navarre took the French throne, Henry renounced his Protestantism in favor of Catholicism; his 1598 Edict of Nantes sanctioned minority religious rights within Catholic France.

The Civil War In France (1562-1598)

The Valois Henri II married Catherine de medici the last powerful Valois Three sons: Francis II Charles IX Henri III Catherine de Medici controlled the sons: Was mother to the boys Played both sides in the civil war Developed a reputation for cruelty

Catherine de Medici

Francis II & His Wife, Mary Stuart

The French Civil War There were two sides: 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 20,000 Huguenots were killed Henri of Navarre, a Bourbon, survived

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

The French Civil War Catherine started supporting the Bourbons. Henri of Navarre defeated Catholic League & becomes Henry IV of France. Effects of Civil War: France was left divided by religion Royal power had weakened Valois family now replaced by Bourbons Catholic League CIVIL WAR Protestant Union

Triumphal Entry of Henry IV Into Paris – Peter Paul Reubens

Henry IV of France Ended Spanish interference in France Converted to Catholicism : Did this to 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 considerations] Fighting for the royal inheritance Passed Edict of Nantes in 1598: Granted religious rights to Huguenots Did not grant religious freedom for all

Spain Philip II, who ruled Spain through most of the second half of the 16th century, controlled vast territories, many people, and much wealth. For the first 25 years or so of Philip's reign, his attention was focused on the demographic and economic changes within his kingdom, defense against the Turks in the Mediterranean, and the annexation of Portugal (which led to control over Portugal's wealthy colonies). The second half of his reign was overshadowed by unrest and, eventually, defeat in the Netherlands.

The Battle of Lepanto

Fresco of the Lepanto battle plan by Antonio Danti

England and Spain Catholic Mary I ruled England for five bloody years. Many Protestants were martyred or exiled during her reign. She married Spain's Prince Philip. Her half-sister, Elizabeth I, succeeded her and ruled for most of the second half of the 16th century (r. 1558-1603). Elizabeth, a brilliant politician, strategist, and diplomat, was probably the most successful European leader of her time. She steered a middle course between extremes in all areas, most notably religion, where she created the moderate Anglican Church. She took firm measures against extremist Puritans (with passage of The Conventicle Act of 1593), against would-be assassins (she executed Mary Queen of Scots for plotting against her), and Spain (the English navy defeated Spain's Armada in 1588).

Phillip II of Spain Married Mary I of England

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth Tilsbury Speech

Defeat of the Spanish Armada, July 1588

Elizabeth Regina

The Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

The Thirty Years’ War Germany's political fragmentation, and conflict throughout Europe between Lutherans, Catholics, and Calvinists, set the stage for the Thirty Years' War. This devastating conflict drew in all the major lands of Europe before it was over; it has shaped the map of Europe up to the present. There were four distinct phases to the war, named after the region that was most actively involved in fighting at that time: the Bohemian period (1618-1625), the Danish period (1625-1629), the Swedish period (1630-1635), and the Swedish-French period (1635-1648). Finally, the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia put an end to hostilities and, among other provisions, reasserted the right of each ruler to determine the religion in his or her land.

1618-1648

Characteristics of the Thirty Years War The Holy Roman Empire was the battleground. 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 in 1648.

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

The Bohemian Phase: 1618-1622 Ferdinand II becomes Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick II borrowed an army from Bavaria. Frederick lost his lands in the fighting. The rebellion in Bohemia inspired others.

Bohemian Phase

The Danish Phase: 1625-1629 Ferdinand II tried to end all resistance. Tried to crush Protestant northern Holy Roman Empire. Ferdinand II used Albrecht von Wallenstein for the army. Wallenstein defeated Protestants in north. Edict of Restitution (1629): Restored to Catholics all lands lost since 1552. Deprived all Protestants, except Lutherans, of their religious and political rights. German princes feared Ferdinand  he fired Wallenstein in effort to calm them.

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 & Sweden switched roles. All countries in Europe 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 Holy Roman Emperor. The United Provinces [Dutch Netherlands] became officially independent  southern part remained a Spanish possession. France received. 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. Sweden won a voice in the Diet of the HR Emp. Brandenburg got important territories on No. Sea & in central 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.

Conclusion Though they were called religious wars, most of the conflicts of this period were at least as much about politics and power. The Thirty Years' War, with its many instigators and frequent changes of venue, is an example of the way opportunism mixed with legitimate religious anxiety. The Peace of Westphalia exemplifies the kind of settlement that tended to resolve these conflicts most successfully, one that allowed local rulers to determine each region's religion.

Write a complex thesis that fully answers the essay prompt Analyze the various ways in which the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) represented a turning point in European history.

Bibliography Many thanks and appreciation to Sue Pojer, google images, The Western Heritage;