1. French Wars of Religion

2. French Wars of Religion: background
Tension increasing between Cs & Ps due to growth of Protestants in society- trades (printing), urban, work more than Cs
Catholics felt threatened, call to “purge” this Protestant infestation, restore God’s favour &with it social stability.
Henry II ( ) married Catherine de Medici. Had 3 sons who became monarchs. Catherine acted as regent at various times.
François II ( )
Charles IX ( )
Henry III ( )

3. French Wars of Religion: Massacre at Vassy
Incident which led to war: group of Huguenots were attending a service in Vassy. Considered illegal.
François, duke of Guise, [cousin of Henri II] asked them to stop service. They didn’t. He attacked them.
Louis de Bourbon-leader of Huguenots- ordered retaliation.

4. The setting: Henry II

5. Henry II
1559 Henry II was unexpectedly killed when a lance pierced his visor during a joust
François II - His 15 yr old son took the throne under the regency of his mother, Queen Catherine de Medici.

6. Catherine de Medici

7. “Boy Kings” François II 1559-60, (born 1544)
Francis II , (born 1544)
Charles IX, (born 1550)
Henry III, (born 1551)
Charles IX, (born 1550)
Henry III, (born 1551)

8. Francis II 1559-60, (born 1544) Francis II 1559-60, (born 1544)
Charles IX, (born 1550)
Henry III, (born 1551)

9. Guises vs. Bourbons
Lack of a strong king, French politics became a power struggle between 2 aristocratic factions: the Guise & the Bourbon.
Lacking a strong King, French politics becomes a power struggle between 2 aristocratic factions: Guise (Catholic) and and Bourbon (Huguenot)

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

11. French nobility took advantage of this monarchial weakness.
In the second half of 1500’s between 2/5’s & ½ of nobility became Calvinist.
For the upper class religion was an excuse to grab for power.
Monarchy: tried to reduce tension between the 2 factions but failed (both not ready to compromise). Wanted to bring about religious tolerance.

12. Powerful Guise Influence
François, the 2nd Duke of Guise’s niece, Mary Queen of Scots, married the young King Francis II.
Francis II ( ) married to Mary Queen of Scots, niece of the Duke of Guise

13. Catherine de Medici- mother, regent-wanted a Catholic France but not one controlled by the Guises.

14. Boy king no.1 died of an ear infection
Francis II , (born 1544)
Francis II , (born 1544)
Charles IX, (born 1550)
Henry III, (born 1551)

15. The Setting: “Boy King no. 2”
Charles IX, (born 1550)
Francis II , (born 1544)
Charles IX, (born 1550)
Henry III, (born 1551)

16. Huguenot influence grows
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.
Charles IX ( ) falls under the influence of Huguenot leader Admiral Coligny, carries on secret negotiations with England

17. 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.
Charles IX ( ) falls under the influence of Huguenot leader Admiral Coligny, carries on secret negotiations with England
Gaspard de Coligny (16 February 1519 – 24 August 1572), Seigneur (Lord) de Châtillon

18. Catherine de Medici, worked with the Guises to assassinate Coligny

19. Coligny survives
Catherine (mother) convinced Charles IX (son) that a Huguenot retaliation is imminent.
Charles IX ( ) falls under the influence of Huguenot leader Admiral Coligny, carries on secret negotiations with England

20. St. Batholomew’s Day Massacre, 24 Aug
St. Batholomew’s Day Massacre, 24 Aug Wedding of Henry of Navarre to daughter of Catherine de Medici. Admiral Coligny & 3,000 Huguenots slaughtered In the far upper right of this painting we see the murdered Coligny hanging out the widow. Just below the window, his body lies on the ground, while Henry, the Duke of Guise stands over it.
St. Batholomew’s Day Massacre, 24 Aug. 1572
Wedding of Henry of Navarre to daughter of Catherine de Medici
Admiral Coligny & 3,000 Huguenots slaughtered
In the far upper right of this painting we see the murdered Coligny hanging out the widow. Just below the window, his body lies on the ground, while Henry, the Duke of Guise stands over it.

21. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre August 24, 1572
Wedding of Henry of Navarre to Margot de Valois, daughter of Catherine de Medici
Admiral Coligny & 3,000 Huguenots slaughtered
Toll in 3 days = 20,000 Huguenots dead
Significance: Reformation was now a struggle to the death for sheer survival

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

23. War of the Three Henrys
Henry of Guise, leader of the Holy League & chief of the Catholic party. Catherine de Medici depended on him.
Henry III:
son of Catherine de Medici & Henry II
War of 3 Henrys
Henry III, son of Catherine de Medici
Henry, Duke of Guise, Catholic leader
Henry of Navarre, Huguenot leader
To the left, Henry III, capable general and notorious crossdresser
To the right, Henry, Duke of Guise, or, as he liked to call himself, "Scarface" because of a face disfigured by a Huguenot musketball
1588: Henry III assassinates the Duke of Guise (woodcut on the right)
1589: a Catholic monk assassinates Henry III
Henry of Navarre, husband of Margot

24. 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, 3rd Duke de Guise.”  Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., Web. 22 May ://

25. Assassination of Henri of Guise

26. Henri of Navarre became Henri IV, the politique
Henri of Navarre became Henri IV, the politique. Next in the line of succession, became King Henry IV ( ). Henry IV converted to Catholicism: “Paris is worth a mass.” Definition of POLITIQUE: one of a group of French moderates in the 16th century religious conflicts holding national unity of greater importance than the absolute predominance of a single sect and advocating religious toleration as the policy of the government.
Henry of Navarre, next in the line of succession, becomes King Henry IV ( ). Henry IV converts to Catholicism "Paris is worth a mass"

27. Peter Paul Rubens, Triumphal Entry of Henri IV into Paris
“Paris is worth a Mass.”
Peter Paul Rubens, Triumphal Entry of Henri IV into Paris

28. Edict of Nantes, 1598

29. Edict of Nantes, 1598 Gave the Huguenots [ > 1 million]
Freedom of public worship
The right of assembly
Admission to public offices & universities
Permission to maintain fortified towns
Significance – created a state within a state. This problem would not be solved until Louis XIV(1661)