1. The French Wars of Religion

2. The French Wars of Religion
Protestant/Catholic violence spills over into France
Horrible religious and political violence
Ends with the end of the Valois Dynasty and the beginning of the Bourbon Dynasty
Edict of Nantes 1598 gives religious freedom in France

3. Hugenots France’s Protestants, Calvinist variant
Mostly nobility and aristocracy convert in France
Marguerite of Angoulême or Margaret of Navarre who was the sister of King Francis I, was an early French Protestant. She wrote Miroir de l'âme pécheresse or the Mirror of the Sinful Soul, searching for meaning in faith and her relationship with G-d.

4. Francis I
Pretty tolerant of his sister’s new faith until his life is threatened

5. The Affair of the Placards
17 October 1534, these posters were put up all over Paris denouncing the mass and the idea of transubstantiation. One was even nailed to the bed chamber door of the king, Francis I, scaring the king into being more strict about the new faith in France.

6. Aftermath Protestants were now in trouble
Jailed, executed, exiled (This is when Calvin flees France)
Protestant villages burned
Edict of Fontainbleau 1540 called for parlements to seek out heretics and persecute them to the fullest extent of the laws.

7. Henry II Continues persecution with Edict of Châteaubriant 1551
Also creates a special branch of the parlements called the “burning chamber” to deal with heretics.

8. Catherine de Medici
His wife, ends up ruling as regent for her son Francis II when Henry dies in terrible jousting accident.
Nicknamed La Serpente for her predilection for poisoning.
Italian Catholic, despises Hugenots for their faith and because they are a threat to stability and the throne.

9. Auld Alliance (strategic alliance between France and Spain since 13th C)
Francis II betrothed to Mary Queen of Scots when they were children
She was half Guise, one of the three most powerful families in France, ULTRA-CATHOLIC
Guise family next in line to throne after Valois.

10. Nostradamus told Catherine all three of her sons would be kings-he just didn’t mention it was because they were all going to die young…
Francis II r , (born 1544)
Dies of ear infection
Francis II , (born 1544)
Charles IX, (born 1550)
Henry III, (born 1551)
Charles IX, r (born 1550) Crazy, died of TB, possibly poisoned
Henry III, r (born 1551)
No heir, assassinated

11. Guises vs Bourbons
The three Guise brothers on the left, Henry of Navarre, heir to the Bourbon dynasty becoming Henry III’s heir on the right.
In the absence of a strong monarch, the two most powerful families began fighting for the throne.

12. Guises are Catholic and form the foundation of The Catholic League.
They use their connection to Francis through Mary Q of Scots to gain power.
Bourbons are Calvinist/Hugenots
In the second half of 1500’s between 2/5’s and ½ of nobility became Calvinist.

13. Catholic League
Look them up- what were their goals? What did they do?

14. Hugenots
Jeanne d’Albret or Jeanne III of Navarre is dedicated to the faith.
Daughter of Marguerite of Navarre*
Mother of Henry IV
Also a writer

15. Catherine de Medici
Wants a Catholic France, but not under the power of the Guise.
Charles IX falls under the influence of the Marshall of France, a powerful Hugenot named Gaspard de Coligny.
Torn between her hatred of Hugenots and her fear of the power of the Guise family.

16. Gaspard de Coligny
His brother converted early and was close to Calvin.
He converted as well. He and his brother distinguished themselves in the Italian Wars, which were not just about Italian provinces, but also about the dominance of the Hapsburgs in Europe.
Most powerful general in France. Great influence on Charles IX, Henry III and Henry of Navarre. His assassination was supposed to be the signal to start the St. Bartholemew’s Day massacre, but his adversaries missed, and shot off the tip of his finger and injured his arm. They later took him out by assaulting him.

17. Valois Bourbon alliance
To check the power of the Guise, Catherine allies with the House of Navarre/Bourbon.

19. St Bartholemew’s Day Massacre