The Protestant Reformation

What is a Protestant? ProtestantCatholic Christianity

Reformation For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had little competition in religious thought and action. The resistance of the Church to change led to the Protestant Reformation, which resulted in the birth of new political and economic institutions.

Conflicts that challenged the authority of the Church in Rome Merchant wealth challenged the Church ’ s view of usury German and English nobility disliked Italian domination of the Church The Church ’ s great political power and wealth caused conflict Church corruption and the sale of indulgences were widespread and caused conflict

Dissenters (Prior to Luther) John Wycliffe- an English priest who argued that the Bible is the highest religious authority. He translated the Bible into English so people could guide themselves in religious matters. He was denounced by the Pope and his followers were persecuted. Jan Huss- a Bohemian religious leader who advocated ideas similar to Wycliffe. Huss was arrested, tried as a heretic and burned at the stake.

Questions What religion are Protestants and Catholics? What led to the start of the Protestant Reformation? What were some of the corrupt practices taking place within the Catholic Church? What were indulgences? Who were the two dissenters before Luther?

Martin Luther (The Lutheran tradition) Views: Salvation by faith alone, Bible as the ultimate authority, all humans equal before God Actions—95 theses, birth of the Protestant Church The 95 theses were statements written by Martin Luther against indulgences and other church practices.

John Calvin (The Calvinist tradition) John Calvin believed in predestination or the idea that God had determined in advance who would achieve salvation. Calvin reformed the city of Geneva, Switzerland and made it into a powerful center of Protestantism. Actions-Expansion of the Protestant Movement

King Henry VIII (Church of England) Wanted a divorce from his first wife because she did not provide him with a male heir. When the Catholic Church would not grant him a divorce, he broke with the Church in the Rome. Henry stopped internal dissent by restricting the religious choice to only the Church of England of which he declared himself to be the head. He retained most of the rituals of the Roman Catholic Church during his reign, but then dissolved all Catholic monasteries and sold their land and possessions (which amounted to almost one-fourth of the land in England). Henry would marry five more times-executing two of those wives and divorcing another. His second wife was the mother of Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth I (Anglican Tradition) Was the daughter of Henry VIII. She was twenty-five when she became queen in 1558 and ruled successfully for forty-four years. Elizabeth inherited the conflicts between the Catholics and the Protestants which she worked with successfully through compromises. The Anglican Church under Elizabeth followed a moderate Protestantism that satisfied most people in England. During Elizabeth’s reign England began to explore and colonize. Elizabeth sponsored Sir Francis Drake and the colony of Virginia in the New World was named for Elizabeth, the “Virgin Queen”. Phillip II of Spain sent the Spanish Armada to try and invade England during Elizabeth’s Reign. England successfully defeat the Armada in 1588.

Questions Who started the Protestant Reformation? How were Luther and Calvin ’ s views different? What was the 95 theses? Why did King Henry VIII change the religion in his country to Protestant? What is Elizabeth I most well known for?

Reformation in Germany Princes in Northern Germany converted to Protestantism, ending authority of the Pope in their states The Hapsburg family and the authority of the Holy Roman Empire continued to support the Roman Catholic Church Conflict between Protestants and Catholics resulted in devastating wars (e.g., Thirty Years War).

Thirty Year’s War The Thirty Year’s War was a series of conflicts between 1618 and 1648 mostly in the territory of today’s Germany. While the clash between the Protestants and Catholics was one of the main reasons for the war, there were many other factions and conflicts during the war including international conflicts, a German civil war for the self- preservation of the Hapsburg dynasty, and a religious war among Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists. When France entered the Thirty Years War on the side of the Protestants that struggle changed from religious to political. The Treaty of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years War.

Reformation in France Catholic monarchy granted Protestant Huguenots freedom of worship by the Edict of Nantes (later revoked) Cardinal Richelieu changed the focus of the Thirty Year ’ s War from a religious to a political conflict

Protestant Huguenots The Protestant Huguenots were greatly influenced by Calvin. The Huguenots make up a small percentage of the population but a large percentage of the nobility. When one of the Huguenots (a Protestant) became King (Henry VI in 1589) he converted to Catholicism when he realized that he would never be accepted otherwise. He later issued the Edict of Nantes which gave the Huguenots the right to worship as Protestants and returned many of their civil privileges. With this Edict the French Wars of Religion ( ) ended.

Cardinal Richelieu Was the de facto ruler of France after Henry IV’s young son became king. Though Richelieu was Catholic he supported the Protestants in the Thirty Years War because he felt the greater enemy of France was Spain (a Catholic country). Internally, he captured holdings of the Huguenots who were seen as a threat to the king’s power. He established a system of government with centralized taxes and selected administrators who gained control over all parts of France.

Catholic Reformation ( Counter Reformation ) The Council of Trent reaffirmed most Church doctrine and practices. The sale of indulgences was stopped by the Council of Trent Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) was founded to spread Catholic doctrine around the world Inquisition was established to reinforce Catholic doctrine

A Changing Europe At first, the Reformation divided the countries of Europe on religious principles, leading to religious intolerance. Power in most European states was concentrated in the monarch. Growth of secularism Growth of individualism Eventual growth of religious tolerance

Role of the Printing Press Growth of literacy was stimulated by the Gutenberg printing press. The Bible was printed in English, French, and German These factors had an important impact on spreading the ideas of the Reformation and the Renaissance

Questions What was the name of the war fought between the Catholics and Protestants? What wealthy, powerful family supported the Catholic church? What document gave French Protestants (Huguenots) freedom of worship? What Cardinal turned the 30 yrs. war into a political conflict? Who were two dissenters prior to Luther? What was established to reinforce Catholic doctrine, often violently? The reformation led to the growth of what type of tolerance? What invention helped spread the Reformation?