Civil War In France

Our objectives: How did Calvinist beliefs threaten the French monarchy? You will learn that religion was not the only reason for the wars… Know the events leading up to the St. Bartholomew day massacre. Who is a Politique and what were his/her beliefs? What did the Edict of Nantes do for France?

Between 1560 (The League of Augsburg) and 1648 Two Major Wars caused devastation for Europe

After these wars, Religion would cease to have a major role in European Warfare But the memory of the Religious Wars would go a long ways toward bringing about a religious freedom and the separation of church and state It must also be considered, that though religion has been cited as the main catalyst for these wars, ECONOMICS and POLITICAL ALLIANCES were perhaps equally important

The French Religious Wars… France was largest country in Europe Calvinism spread quickly into France (Calvin himself was French)

In France, a large proportion of the nobility became Protestant Like Germany, these nobles wanted the right to choose the religion of their area Many towns converted to Protestantism

The wars of religion in France were only in part due to actual religious conflicts. In actuality, according to many sources, these wars are representative of the traditional conflict between the established powers in France (the king, the nobility, the Parliaments …). Due to the establishment of the Gallican church (Concordat of Bologna) most Frenchmen were Catholic.

The setting: Henry II

In 1559 Henry II dies in a joust—Catherine Medici, his widow, is left with three young sons.

The Valois Family: The Beginning of the End  Henry II was the last powerful Valois  Three weak sons followed in Valois line:  Francis II (15 years old)  Charles IX  Henry III

The Setting: “ Boy Kings ” Francis II , (born 1544) Charles IX, (born 1550) Henry III, (born 1551)

Catherine de Medici

 Catherine de Medici controlled the sons:  fought hard to maintain Catholic control in France  Developed a reputation for cruelty

Guises vs. Bourbons Lack of a strong king, French politics became a power struggle between 2 aristocratic factions: the Guise & the Bourbon.

The French Civil War

Other Families Fighting For Control Between 40-50% of nobles became Calvinists (Huguenots)—many were Bourbons Many nobles converted for religious reasons but some sought independence from the crown. Resulted in resurgence of feudal disorder in France The Bourbons were next in line to inherit the throne if the Valois did not produce a male heir. The ultra-Catholic Guise family also competed for the throne; strongly anti-Bourbon Fighting began in 1562 between Catholics & Calvinists Atrocities occurred on both sides

Religions Protestant faction: Huguenots = French Calvinists. Supported by the Bourbons Guise = Catholic

Powerful Guise Influence The Duke of Guise ’ s niece, Mary Queen of Scots, marries the young King Francis II.

Boy king no.1 died of an ear infection Francis II , (born 1544)

The Setting: “Boy King no. 2” Charles IX, (born 1550)

Huguenot influence grows Margot de Valois Henri of Navarre. King Charles IX fell under the influence of Huguenot leader Admiral Coligny, & his sister, Margot de Valois, planned to marry another Huguenot leader, Henri of Navarre.

Coligny: Huguenot leader Let’s help the Netherlands! He wanted to support the Protestants in the Netherlands, but this support would put France on a crash course with Spain. Gaspard de Coligny (16 February 1519 – 24 August 1572), Seigneur (Lord) de Châtillon

-Catherine de Medici, worked with the Guises to assassinate Coligny -plot is hatched August 22 nd when Coligny’s is shot and wounded - Huguenots are enraged

Matters came to a head when Henry, King of Navarre (Protestant) came to Paris to marry Margaret, daughter of Catherine de Medici, and sister to the King (1572)

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre  August 24, 1572  Marriage of Margaret of Valois to Protestant Huguenot Henry of Navarre was intended to reconcile Catholics and Huguenots.  Rioting occurred when the leader of Catholic aristocracy, Henry of Guise, had a leader of the Huguenot party Admiral Coligny & 3,000 Huguenots slaughtered the night before the wedding.  Catherine de Médicis ordered the massacre of Calvinists in response 20,000 Huguenots were killed  Henry of Navarre, a Bourbon, survived  The massacre initiated the War of the Three Henrys: civil wars between Valois, Guise, and Bourbons

Guise swordsmen broke into Admiral Coligny’s bedroom where he was recovering when he was skewered with a pike then his corpse was hung by it heels out of a window.

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Henri of Navarre on Catherine D Medici “I ask you what could she have done, poor woman, left at her husband’s death with five small children and two families in France- ours and the Guises- who hoped to get the Crown for themselves? Wasn’t it necessary for her to play some strange games, to decieve everybody, in order to protect her sons who reigned only because of her cunning? You may say she did harm to France- the marvel is she didn’t do worse!”

War of the Three Henrys Henry III: son of Catherine de Medici & Henry II Henry of Guise, leader of the Holy League & chief of the Catholic party. Catherine de Medici depended on him. Henry of Navarre, husband of Margot

At the popular level the conflict was religious Catholic Priests & Protestant Pastors encouraged violence for their side. Mobs attacked those of other religion Calvinists destroyed Catholic statues in churches Catholics tortured Huguenots

French Catholics Murdering Protestants in Paris How has the artist made the painting look horrific? Was the artist a Catholic or a Protestant? Why?

Catholic League ruled Paris King Henry III tried to destroy the league with a surprise attack but failed in 1588 Henry III assassinated Henry of Guise: “ On December 23 Guise fell into a carefully laid trap. As he left a Council meeting in answer to a royal summons, he was set upon by the King’s bodyguard and stabbed. His body and that of his brother Louis II, Cardinal de Guise, who was murdered the next day, were burned and the ashes thrown in the Loire. Henri I de Lorraine, 3 rd Duke de Guise.” -

The Guises fought to eliminate Calvinism, but they also fought for control of France. Henry III ordered the assassination of the Duke of Guise

Assassination of Henri of Guise

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

Triumphal Entry of Henry IV Into Paris – Peter Paul Reubens

“I rule with my arse in the saddle and my gun in my fist”

*One of the most important kings in French history *His rise to power ended the French Civil Wars and placed France on a gradual course towards absolutism  Ended Spanish interference in France  Converted to Catholicism :  Privately remained a Huguenot  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 Henry IV of France

He entered Paris, supposedly saying “Paris is worth a Mass” The Catholics were delighted The Huguenots were horrified But Henry took the steps necessary to provide state order and end the French religious wars.

He amicably divorced Margarat, and married Marie de Medici. They had several children.

Edict of Nantes  Henry IV passed Edict of Nantes in 1598:  Granted religious rights to Huguenots  Huguenots could practice faith privately but not publically Did not grant religious freedom for all Huguenots not allowed to worship at all in Paris and other staunchly Catholic cities. – Gave Huguenots access to universities, to public office, and the right to maintain some 200 fortified towns in west and southwestern France for self-protection. – In reality, the Edict was more like a truce in the religious wars rather than recognition of religious tolerance. Nevertheless, the Edict gave Huguenots more religious protection than perhaps any other religious minority in Europe.

Edict of Nantes, 1598

The Huguenots became less rebellious after the Edict of Nantes And Henry IV FORCED toleration on his country

He brought peace and prosperity for 21 years of his rule.

Sadly, Henry was assassinated in 1610 by a crazed Catholic fanatic named Francois Ravailliac

He was “punished” for his deed.

Marie ruled alone as a regent for her son, Louis XIII.

Over time, Cardinal Richelieu of France gained great influence during the childhood and adulthood of Louis XIII—only dying a year before Louis did. (1642) Richelieu tried to maintain the order of Henry IV—he was the de facto ruler for 32 years