The Reformation: Beyond Lutheranism

HRE: Catholic vs. Protestant 1530 – Diet of Augsburg – Charles and Catholic princes rejected Lutheranism (Augsburg Confession) 1531 – League of Schmalkalden formed by Protestant princes to defend themselves; France = ally Civil war ensued between Protestants in north and Catholics in South

Victory, but Compromise 1546 – Luther died in Eisleben 1547 – Charles V defeated League, but practice of Lutheranism continued 1555 – Peace of Augsburg – German princes could choose religion of their domain – Cuius regio, eius religio - “whose the region, his the religion” Permanently divided German states along religious lines – helped prevent German unity until the 1870s

Other Religious Movements 1525 – Anabaptists – radical Protestant separatists – refused secular oaths, paying taxes, holding office, serving in military – separation of church and state Believed in adult baptism, rejected Holy Trinity, practiced polygamy 1534-35 – Münster Rebellion – radical Anabaptist sect took over city; Protestants and Catholics joined forces to defeat rebels, executed leaders Influenced Mennonites, Quakers, and Unitarians

John Calvin - Calvinism French humanist, lawyer, reformer (1509-1564) Influenced by Erasmus Exiled from France to Switzerland Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536)

Calvinism “Pre-destination” – God already knew who would be saved or condemned; nothing man can do to change that “The Elect” – those that would be saved; revealed to them by God through a conversion experience – these “visible saints” served as model Christians By 1540, Geneva, Switzerland was a Calvinist theocracy, new center for Reformation, took in exiles from across Europe

Calvinism Most militant and demanding new faith Consistory – group of church elders – power to punish for breaking laws No dancing, secular singing, gambling, drinking No other religions practiced Unitarian Michael Servetus fled Spain for Geneva; 1553 – burned at stake for heresy

Calvinism “Protestant Work Ethic” – belief that hard work and financial success were signs that God was pleased Financial success meant one might be among “the Elect” Despite demanding requirements, Calvinism spread to other nations, had greater influence than Lutheranism

Spread of Calvinism Scotland – John Knox – Presbyterian Church founded in 1560 France – Calvinist Huguenots – appealed to nobility in France - brutally repressed by Catholic majority Netherlands – Dutch Reformed Church – led efforts to free Lowlands from Catholic Spain in 1580s England – Puritans within Anglican Church – 1640s – overthrew, executed king

English Reformation Henry VIII (b. 1491, r. 1509-1547) – Tudor monarch Devout Catholic – “Defender of the Faith” Needed son to continue dynasty, but wife Catherine of Aragon only gave him 1 daughter Wanted to annul marriage and marry again

Henry’s Break with the Church Pope refused – Catherine was aunt of Charles V of HRE 1533 – Henry banished Catherine, secretly married mistress Anne Boleyn, an educated courtier and Protestant 1534 – Act of Supremacy declared English monarch to be head of Church of England (Anglican Church)

Henry Moved Against the Church 1534 - Act of Succession – all King’s subjects forced to take oath to recognize Anne as new queen, any children as legitimate heirs – Sir Thomas More executed for refusing to take oath Henry ordered all Catholic lands seized for crown –Church treasure seized and all monasteries closed – later sold or given to nobles 1536 – Pilgrimage of Grace – multi-class uprising in northern England against king’s actions; over 200 executed for role in rebellion

Henry’s Children Edward VI (r. 1547-1553) – influenced by Reformed Protestants – moved Anglican Church closer to Calvinism Early death led to crisis Mary I (r. 1553-1558) – married to Philip II of Spain – made England Catholic again – persecution of Protestants led to nickname “Bloody Mary” (300 executed)

Elizabeth I Reigns 1558-1603 – the “Virgin Queen” Brought C. of E. back toward Lutheranism Required all to attend Anglican services; but tolerated Catholicism in private – “Elizabethan Settlement” 1559 – Book of Common Prayer

Resistance to Elizabeth Puritans (Calvinist Anglicans) felt betrayed – wanted to move C. of E. away from Catholic past Some Catholics plotted to assassinate her or urged invasion to place cousin Mary, Queen of Scots on throne Mary fled to England when overthrown in Scotland; imprisoned for 19 years, eventually convicted and executed in 1587 for plotting to overthrow and replace Elizabeth

European Religions, c. 1550