1. French Wars of
Religion
( )

2. French Wars of Religion
Seemed an unlikely place for religious war
Henry II accidentally killed
Catherine de’ Medici dominated ( )

3. French Wars of Religion
Concerned by growth of Calvinism, French kings persecuted them
Huguenots came from all levels of society

4. French Wars of Religion
It is possible that 40-50% of the nobility became Huguenots
Constituted for apprx. 10% of population

5. French Wars of Religion
Extreme Catholic party—known as the ultra-Catholics
Led by Guise family
Had loyalty of Paris, and N./N.E. France
Ironically the Guise family posed a threat to the Catholic Valois dynasty
Henry Duke of Guise
( )

6. French Wars of Religion
Wars erupted in 1562: duke of Guise massacred peaceful congregation
During the 1560s: Huguenots were too small a group to conquer France, but could not be defeated either

7. French Wars of Religion
“Compromise”: marriage of reigning Valois king Charles IX’s sister to Henry of Navarre (Bourbon ruler of Navarre)
Many traveled to Paris for wedding
Guise family persuaded king & his mother that Huguenots posed a threat
Margaret Valois

8. French Wars of Religion
St Bartholomew's Day Massacre: began early on August 24, 1572
King’s guards killed prominent Huguenot leaders
Unleashed wave of violence
Lasted about 3 days
Approx. 3,000 Huguenots dead

9. French Wars of Religion-War of the 3 Henries
Current ruler was Henry III ( ), succeeded brother—Charles IX
Ultra Catholics wanted to place Henry duke of Guise on throne
Seized Paris (through the pay of Philip II) & forced Henry III to make him chief minister
Henry III
Henry Duke
of Guise

10. French Wars of Religion-War of the 3 Henries
Henry III assassinated duke of Guise, joined with Henry Navarre (returned to Calvinism) who was next in line to the throne
Henry III assassinated in 1589
Henry Navarre claimed throne (converted back to Catholicism)

11. French Wars of Religion
Edict of Nantes (1598):
Acknowledged Catholicism as official religion of France but,
Guaranteed Huguenots right to worship in selected places
Huguenots could enjoy all political privileges

12. Philip II & Spain Philip II ( 1556-98) Son of Charles V
Inherited Spain, Netherlands, possessions in Italy & New World
Aggressively used the Inquisition
Palace: El Escorial
Demonstrated his power & faith

13. Philip II & Spain Wanted to make Spain a dominant power in Europe
Importation of silver was detrimental: spiraling inflation
Did not have a true middle class

14. Philip II & Spain
War (especially after 1580) was devastating to the economy
Philip II in many ways led to the decline of Spain

15. Philip II & Spain “Most Catholic king”
**became champion of Catholicism throughout Europe
-led to several great victories (Lepanto 1571), but equally great defeats (Elizabeth I)

16. Revolt in the Netherlands
One of the richest parts of Philip’s empire
Netherlands: consisted of 17 provinces
7 Northern were largely Germanic in culture and Dutch speaking
10 Southern: French and Flemish speaking, tied to France

17. Revolt in the Netherlands
b/c of location, Netherlands had many religious influences: Lutheranism, Anabaptists, and Calvinism
Did not have real political bond, except common ruler: Philip II

18. Revolt in the Netherlands
Philip wanted to strengthen his control
This was opposed by nobles, towns, etc. who stood to lose politically
Resentment intensified when the Dutch realized the taxes they paid were used for Spanish interests

19. Revolt in the Netherlands
Religion became a major catalyst for revolt:
Philip II wanted to reorganize the structure of the Dutch Catholic Church
Also wanted to crush heresy

20. Revolt in the Netherlands
Violence erupted in 1566: Calvinists (especially nobles) destroyed statues/stained glass windows in Catholic churches
Philip II responded by sending duke of Alba with (approximately) 10,000 troops to crush the rebellion
Duke of Alba

21. Revolt in the Netherlands
Duke of Alba: oppressive—levied a permanent sales tax, alienating merchants & commoners
They joined with the nobles and Calvinists, against Spanish rule
Duke was removed in 1573
Council of Troubles:
Nicknamed by the Dutch as Council of Blood
Created reign of terror

22. Revolt in the Netherlands
William of Orange emerged as the resistance leader
William of Orange wanted to unify all 17 provinces
1576, Pacification of Ghent: 1.)said that all provinces would stand together under W. of O, 2.)respect religious differences, & 3.)demand Spanish troops be removed
William of Orange

23. Revolt in the Netherlands
Duke of Parma: next Spanish leader
Played upon the religious differences of the provinces, splitting them
Union of Arras
Southern Provinces
1579, formed a Catholic union
accepted Spanish rule
Duke of Parma

24. Revolt in the Netherlands
Union of Utrecht
Organized by William of Orange
Northern- Dutch speaking Provinces
Opposed Spanish rule
Wanted to organize under France or Elizabeth I—neither worked
Netherlands now divided along religious, geographical, and political lines

25. Revolt in the Netherlands
Even though Elizabeth I refused to lead the N. Provinces, she did assist them militarily
Struggle in the Dutch area continued after both Philip II and Elizabeth I had died

26. Revolt in the Netherlands
1609: Twelve Years’ Truce in the Netherlands
Virtually recognized the independence of the N. provinces
“United Provinces” emerged as the Dutch Republic— Spanish did not recognize them until 1648
Southern provinces remained a Spanish possession

27. Elizabeth I Daughter of Anne Boleyn & Henry VIII
Cleaned up Mary I’s “mess”
Catholics were majority when she took the crown
R efused marriage to Philip II

28. Elizabeth I Queen Mary of Scots
Had legitimate claim to the English throne
Had to flee Scotland
Lived under house arrest in England
Had plots to assassinate Elizabeth
Elizabeth I beheaded her

29. Elizabeth I Spain and England Philip II wanted to invade England
Elizabeth I was helping in the Dutch region
Elizabeth beheaded Mary of Scots
Philip II’s advisers claimed the people of England would rise against their queen

30. Elizabeth I
1588--Spanish fleet , battered on numerous occasions, were forced to sail north around Scotland
Defeat of Spanish Armada ensured England would be Protestant
Psychological blow to Spaniards

31. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Often called last of the “religious wars”
However, as war continued it was clear that dynastic-nationalist considerations were more important
Historians view it as a struggle b/w the Bourbons and Hapsburgs (HRE & Spain)

32. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Background to the War
1.)Since beginning of 16th c., France felt “encircled” by Hapsburgs
2.) Spain saw 12 year truce with Netherlands (1609) as temporary…wanted to regain control
3.) Austrian Hapsburgs wished to consolidate their holdings & eliminate Protestantism…also H R Emperors were frustrated by lack of power

33. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Beginnings:
During the early 17th century Elector Frederick IV (a Calvinist) formed a league of German States into the Protestant Union
Gained support of Dutch , English, and French
To counteract: a Catholic League of German States was formed by Duke Maximilian
Gained support of Spain & HRE

34. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Ferdinand II
Historians historically have divided the 30 yrs. War into 4 phases:
PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase ( )
1617: Bohemian Estates (mostly nobles) accepted Archduke Ferdinand as their king
Ferdinand II

35. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Frederick V
PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase ( ) cont.
Ferdinand tried to “re-catholicize” Bohemia…making the Protestant nobility upset
Protestant nobility rebelled in 1618
Rebels deposed Ferdinand, replaced with Elector Frederick V
Frederick V

36. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase (1618-25) cont.
Meanwhile, Ferdinand was elected H R Emperor
With the help of the Catholic League, imperial forces defeated Frederick (& the the Battle of White Mountain (Nov. 8, 1620)

37. Thirty Years’ War ( )
**PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase ( ) cont.
Spain took advantage of Frederick’s weakness, gained western parts of the Palatinate
Ferdinand confiscated Protestant lands, and Catholicism was the sole religion

38. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Wallenstein
PHASE # 2: Danish Phase ( )
King Christian IV of Denmark (a Lutheran) invaded northern Germany (on behalf of the Protestant cause & he would gain lands that would give him control of the southern Baltic)
Imperial forces led by Albrecht von Wallenstein
Christian IV soundly defeated
Wallenstein

39. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Christian IV
PHASE # 2: Danish Phase ( ) cont.
Christian IV’s defeat meant end of Danish involvement in 30 yrs. War & Danish Supremacy in the Baltic
Ferdinand was at his height of power
Issued Edict of Restitution (1629):prohibited Calvinist worship, & gave back Catholic lands that were taken by Protestants in the last 75 yrs.
Wallenstein was dismissed
Christian IV

40. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Adolphus
PHASE # 3: Swedish Phase ( )
Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, received financial support from France
Motivated by gaining complete control of the Baltic Sea & religion ( he was a Lutheran), Adolphus brought his army into northern Germany
Adolphus

41. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) PHASE # 3: Swedish Phase (1630-35) cont.
Imperial forces recalled Wallenstein
@ Battle of Lutzen: Swedish forces won…but Adolphus was killed
Wallenstein was assassinated in 1634

42. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) PHASE # 3: Swedish Phase (1630-35) cont.
Imperial forces won Battle of Nordlingen, guaranteeing southern Germany would be Catholic
H R Emperor tried to make peace with the German princes and revoked the 1629 Edict of Restitution

43. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) PHASE # 4: Franco-Swedish Phase (1635-48)
By this time religious issues lost significance, dynastic powers were more important
Catholic French were supporting Protestant Swedes against Catholic Hapsburgs of Germany & Spain
Cardinal
Richelieu

44. Thirty Years’ War ( )
PHASE # 4: Franco-Swedish Phase ( ) cont.
Most decisive battle: Battle of Rocroi (1643), France beat Spain…ending Spanish military greatness
War in Germany officially ended with Peace of Westphalia (1648)
War b/w France and Spain continued until 1659 w/ the Peace of the Pyrenees

45. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Results of the 30 yrs. War:
1.)Ensured all German States were free to determine own religion
2.)France gained Western parts of Germany, now controlling the Franco-Germanic border (which will become excellent military bases in the future)

46. Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) Results of the 30 yrs. War:
3.)Austrian Hapsburgs saw authority as rulers of Germany further diminish
4.)the more than 300 states that made up the HRE were virtually independent, bringing an end to the HRE as a political entity
5.) made clear that religion and politics are separate worlds (pope excluded from all Westphalia