The Religious Wars

The French Civil/Religious

Wars

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

• Therefore, when you hear a person say “I’m not religious because religion has caused so much destruction in history.”

• Say to them, politely, “Don’t blame religion, buddy, it was economics and political alliances that caused many problems.”

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 Kings of France opposed Calvinism

• This includes Francois I

• And Henry II (Diane de Poitiers)

Lutherans in Germany and Anglicans in England also

opposed the spread of Calvinism—they believed there wasn’t enough room

for another religion. Besides, Calvinism was troubling because of its

independence

Remember, Calvinism did not respect state authority over

religious independence. One’s allegiance was to God

In France, persecution of the Huguenots begins

• Many are burned at Stake

Henry II dies in a joust—Catherine Medici, his widow, is left with three

young sons.

These three kings—Francis—1560, Charles IX 1574, and Henry III, 1589

never have a firm hand on the monarchy

There were two sides:

The Huguenots, led by the King of Navarre and Admiral

ColignyVs.

The Catholic Guise family

During this time, France slid into civil war

The Huguenots fought for religious liberty

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

the assassination of the Duke of Guise

Catherine de Medici, the queen mother, played both sides against

each other.

Matters came to a head when Henry, King of Navarre came to

Paris to marry Margot, daughter of Catherine de Medici, and sister to

the King (1572)

Thousands of Huguenots flooded Paris to see the marriage of their King

Catherine de Medici orders that the Huguenot leaders are to be killed. Henry of Navarre escapes—but Coligny is murdered.

This occurred on St.

Bartholomew’s Day. Mob

violence broke out as both sides killed each

otherThousands of Huguenots were

murdered across France. Hell broke lose as mercenaries were hired to

participate in the killing

In Rome, the pope was delighted with the murder of the Huguenots.

He ordered a celebration mass. Medals were struck to remember

this Catholic victory.

The Protestants appealed

to Elizabeth of England to invade France.

Elizabeth looked at the events in France with horror. She became

even more determined to prevent this happening in her country.

The French royal family also tried to lure Elizabeth into marriage with one of their members, the younger son of

Catherine, the Duke of Anjou

Wisely, Elizabeth

kept out of the French mess—she focused her aide on the Netherlands revolt—an area where she could have the

most impact

This religious fighting in France was chaotic, with armed bands roaming the countryside and

many mini-truces among different areas.

Gradually, there developed the belief that

nothing justified this everlasting chaos and

war.

This belief was that of a politique

The idea that civil order can accommodate more

than one religion

France looked toward Henry of Navarre to provide the

leadership needed.

If we remember, Henry had barely escaped from the St.

Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

He and Princess Margot never grew close, but she was loyal and supportive.

The final son, Henry III, of Catherine de Medici was

assassinated in 1589.

• Now the throne went to the next legal heir, Henry of Navarre—He would now be Henry IV.

• Henry had the choice to convert to Catholicism before the Guise family would accept him—he converted in order to gain the throne.

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.

Henry did not forget the Huguenots. He issued the

Edict of Nantes in 1598

This Edict guaranteed civil rights for Huguenots. Paris was off limit to

Protestants

The Huguenots became less rebellious after the Edict of

Nantes

And Henry IV FORCED toleration on his country

Henry IV became one of

France’s greatest

Kings

He amicably divorced Margot, and married Marie de Medici. They

had several children.

He helped France to rebuild

after the wars and promised

a “Chicken in Every

Pot.”

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

He never consulted the French Parliament, the Estates

General---Taxes (the taille) were administered directly.

Parliament was not consulted.

Sadly, Henry was assassinated in 1610 by a crazed Catholic

fanatic

Ravellic was the assassin. 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

The way was paved for France’s greatest absolute

monarch, Louis XIV

These are the things you have just learned in this slide show.

• How did Calvinist beliefs threaten the French monarchy?

• You will learn that religion was not the only reason for the wars…

• Who were the victims of the St. Bartholomew’s day massacre?

• Who is a Politique and what were his/her beliefs?

• What did the Edict of Nantes do for France