Carol Rioux Kingwood H.S. Kingwood, TX

One effect of the Reformation was that a wave of religious wars swept Europe. Wars between Catholics and Protestants were waged in France, the Spanish Empire, and the Holy Roman Empire. Although religion was the initial factor in these wars, a strong underlying factor was a quest for political power.

The wars of religion began with the death of Henry II of the Valois dynasty. His three sons were all incompetent and the real power was their mother, Catherine d’Medici.

Two factions hoped to use the weakened state of the monarchy to gain control of France. One faction, the Huguenots, French Protestants, was led by the Bourbon family. The other faction, the Ultra-Catholics, was led by the Guise family. Henry of Navarre Duke of Guise

Protestants and Catholics fought eight religious wars between 1562 and Both sides committed atrocities, the worst being the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre on August 24, Huguenots were killed. It symbolized the complete breakdown of order in France. Politiques suggested that achieving political stability was more important than achieving religious uniformity.

Converted to Catholicism to please the majority. Issued the Edict of Nantes -- recognized Catholicism as the official religion of France, but also gave the Huguenots the right of worship and full political privileges Devoted his reign to rebuilding France and its prosperity (helped by the Duke of Sully). Laid the foundation for royal absolutism 1610 stabbed to death by a fanatic After 30 years of warfare, civil order was restored when Henry of Navarre became King Henry IV, first king of the Bourbon dynasty. As king, Henry

Charles I/V Gave up throne and retreated to a monastery Ferdinand I, his brother, got the Holy Roman Empire Philip II, his son, got Spain, the Spanish Netherlands, and Spain’s overseas possessions.

Philip II “Most Catholic King” Incredibly wealthy His palace, Escorial, also functioned as a monastery Acquired Portugal when the king, his uncle died Commanded standing army of 50,000 and a massive navy Great defender of Catholicism Micro-manager

Greatest Victory Spain’s leadership of Holy League resulted in stunning victory against the Ottoman Turks at Battle of Lepanto

Northern provinces of Netherlands were home to many Protestants Wanted independence from Spain. Resented that the taxes they paid went to Spain Protestants attacked Catholic churches

Philip sent the Duke of Alva to suppress Protestant revolts Alva instituted the Council of Troubles Dutch called it the Council of Blood

William of Orange, a Protestant aristocrat, led the fight for independence Dutch flooded their lands to drive the Spanish out. Northern provinces declared their independence and became the United Provinces of the Netherlands

Philip’s reign ended in To most Europeans, Spain still seemed to be the greatest power of the age Reality check: Philip had squandered much of Spain’s wealth trying to restore Catholicism to all of Europe Philip had declared bankruptcy several times His armed forces were out of date His government was inefficient Power in Europe had shifted to France and England

United Provinces of the Netherlands Republic Religious toleration Commercial Revolution Great Economic Prosperity Joint-Stock Companies – Dutch East India Company Great Merchant Fleet

Despite the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, religious disputes continued. Lutherans and Catholics feared one another and both were concerned with the spread of Calvinism. In 1617, Ferdinand, the head of the Hapsburg family and soon to be Holy Roman Emperor was elected king of Bohemia.

He orders the closing of Protestant churches. Protestants of course revolt! Ferdinand is Catholic and Austrian; the Bohemians dislike him! Ferdinand sends troops to Bohemia, and the German princes see this as an opportunity to challenge his authority

Soon a full-fledged war breaks out over religion, territory, and power. The war has two phases: Phase of Hapsburg Victory Ferdinand pays his army by allowing them to plunder and rob German villages

1630 King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden helps drive the Hapsburgs out of Northern Germany Phase of Hapsburg Defeat Newsflash!!!! 1635: Catholic France entered the war on the Protestant side. Hapsburgs are defeated!

The Thirty Years war was the most destructive conflict Europe had experienced. Virtually all major European powers were involved except England. The war officially ended with the Peace of Westphalia of 1648.

German princes were virtually independent of the HRE The United Provinces of the Netherlands and Switzerland were formally recognized Peace of Augsburg’s principle of cuius regio, eius religo was expanded to include Calvinists Provisions of the Treaty: Effects of the war: Spain and the Holy Roman Empire were weakened France was strengthened

Introduced new method of negotiating peace; all participants would meet to decide peace terms. Idea of a united Catholic Europe was abandoned Europe was now seen as a group of independent states that could negotiate for themselves. Each state was viewed as the equal of the other Marked the beginning of the modern state system Germany was so severely damaged that it will not unite until 1871 France was established as the predominant power on the European continent.