1. Wars of Religion

2. Background on France Habsburg-Valois Wars – Ended in 1559.
War between Spain and France over control of Italy. (We didn’t talk about this much)
Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
French Monarchy remained loyal to Rome and Catholic Church.
Concordat of Bologna – Treaty with Pope to allow French Crown to appoint all bishops and abbots.
Significant portion of French were Calvinists.
Known as Huguenots
10% of population – Mostly in urban areas

6. Weak Leadership leads to War
King Henry II gets shot in the face.
3 successive heirs proved feeble and weak.
Lords and Nobles rebelled against this weakness by adopting Protestantism.
Wars broke out between Protestants and Catholics in France.
Over use of sacred images, sacraments, etc
Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
King Sister Margaret Valois (Catholic) married Henry of Navarre (Protestant)
Attempt at reconcilation
Resulted in massacre of Huguenots by Catholic mobs
Civil War broke out for 15 years

9. Politiques and Savior of France
French agriculture, commerce, and trade were on the brink of total collapse.
Politiques – Moderates who wanted a strong monarch to emerge and take control.
Wanted religious tolerance of Huguenots
Catherine de’Medici – Wife of Henry II dies.
Henry III – Assassinated.
Henry of Navarre emerges as heir. (also a politique. Also guys whose wedding caused a Civil War)
Henry converts to Catholicism (Becomes Henry IV)
Issues Edict of Nantes – Religious liberty to Huguenots.

12. Netherlands – Religious Conflict
Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor abdicates the throne following the Peace of Augsburg.
Leaves control of the Spanish Empire to his son Phillip II.
The Netherlands (Low Countries) were loosely associated cities.
Protestant ideas, especially Calvinism took hold.
Riots and revolts against Catholic Church
Phillip II – Super Catholic Spaniard decides to fix this.
Sends Duke of Alva to handle situation.
“Council of Blood” – Tribunal that led to the death of 1500 Protestants.
He’s also engaged in war with Elizabeth I in England with the Spanish Armada
These actions reaffirmed Catholicism was bad and also Spanish rule was bad.
Civil War Breaks out
10 Southern Provinces (Modern Day Belgium) stays under Spain
7 Northern Provinces (Modern Day Netherlands) stays Protestant and declares Independence as the Union of Utrecht.