French Wars of Religion

French Civil Wars

Huguenot: French Calvinist 40-50% of the French nobility became

Huguenots The House of Bourbon (Huguenot, Navarre) The House of Valois (Catholic, French crown) Guise Family (ultra-Catholic, loyalty from Paris

and large sections of northern and northwestern France, the papacy and the Jesuits).

Politiques: placed politics above religion and believed that no religious truth was worth civil war.

French Wars of Religion

1562: Guise Duke massacres congregation of Huguenots.

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre – August 1572 Apparent truce b/t the factions when Charles IX’s (king of

France) sister marries Henry of Navarre. Huguenots travel to the wedding in Paris. Guise family persuades Charles and his mother (Catherine

de’ Medici) that the guests pose a threat. Kings guards assassinate leading Huguenots

Catholic mobs begin roaming the streets, killing Calvinists. After 3 days, 3,000 Huguenots lay dead. Discredited the Valois dynasty without ending the conflict.

French Wars of Religion

War of the Three Henries – 1588-1589 The “Holy League” vows to put Henry, duke of

Guise on the throne. Henry III (Valois) sits on the throne Philip II (Spain) pays Henry (duke of Guise) to seize

the throne – becomes chief minister. Henry III assassinates Henry, duke of Guise and joins

Henry of Navarre to rid Paris of the Holy League. After Henry III is assassinated by a fanatic monk,

Henry of Navarre takes the crown And becomes Catholic – again…

French Wars of Religion

Ends with the coronation of Henry of Navarre as

the Catholic king of France

Fighting continues until the Edict of Nantes (1589) Acknowledges Catholicism as the official religion of

France Allows Huguenots religious freedom and certain

strongholds throughout the state for protection. They could also hold public office

Was more out of political necessity that conviction.

French Wars of Religion