Age of Religious Wars

1. Age of Religious Wars

2. French Wars of Religion 1562-1598 • Huguenots- (French Protestants)- watched by French monarchs as early as 1520 when protestant ideas arrived in France • Huguenot persecution became policy under Henry II and Continued until Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) took throne in 1789 • Catherine de Medicis- regent for Charles IX- sought allies among protestants • January Edict- granted Protestants Freedom to worship outside towns and hold synods

3. Guises Family Religious War in France • March 1562- Duke of Guise Family led a massacre on the Huguenots • Huguenots and Protestant allies fought against Guise Faction. Catherine of Medicisaligns with Guise family. Coligny leader of Protestant faction • 1572- St. Barholomew’s Day Massacre- plot against Coligny and Huguenots. 3,000 Huguenots killed on this day. Next 3 days, 20,000 Huguenots executed.

4. Peace of Beaulieu • Led by Henry III May 1576 • Grants complete religious and civil freedom to Huguenots • Henry III murdered and Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) rises to Throne and converts to Catholicism • Proclaims a religious settlement called Edict of Nantes of April 13, 1598: • Recognizes Huguenots Rights including freedom of worship, right to assembly and series of other liberties

5. Imperial Spain and Reign of Philip II • Philip: Spain Annexed Portugal and gain access to Empires in Africa, India, and Americas • Ruler of Habsburg Lands of Bohemia, Austria, and Hungry

6. Philip II and Netherlands • Philip II attempts but fails to Conquer Netherlands • Initial uprising is put down by the Duke of Alba and the Catholic League • Resistance to Philip Led by William of Orange after 1577 • Pacification of Ghent- 1576 Catholic and Protestants forces come together against Spain. • 1585- Elizabeth Commits forces to Netherlands • Twelve Years Truce 1609 - gave northern providence independence • Peace of Westphalia of 1648- formally recognizes Twelve Years Truce

7. England and Spain 1553-1603 • Mary I (Mary Tutor, Bloody Mary) attempts to restore Catholicism • Elizabeth I (Mary’s Half Sister) undoes Catholic Restoration; Passes Act of Supremacy that asserts Elizabeth as Supreme Governor of Religious and Secular Affairs • England Allies with France in 1571. English Pirates, Francis Drake and John Hawkins, preying on Spanish Ships • Mary Stuart (Queen of Scotts)- Catholic, French royal and legitimate heir to throne was executed by Elizabeth because of perceived threat • Execution of Mary Angers Spanish • Philip II orders Spanish Armada (Fleet of Ships) to prepare for War in 1588 • Spanish Armada is destroyed by English • Encourages European Protestants

8. 30 years War 1618-1648 • Bohemian Period- Calvinists Demands more freedom for Catholic Habsburgs ruler Ferdinand. Protestant Nobility Responded by throwing two of Ferdinand’s Regents out window called defenestration of Prague • Danish Period- King Christian of Denmark attempts to bring Protestantism to Germany and was forced to retreat by Maximilian. In 1629 Ferdinand outlaws Calvinism by issuing Edict of Restitution • Swedish Period- Military tactics of King GustavusAdlophus of Sweden help protestants win battle of Breitenfield. The Swedish refuse to join Peace of Prague Agreement: • Comprise between German Protestant States and Ferdinand • Allows for Kings to Choose official religion

9. 30 years War Continued • Swedish French Period- involved French, Swedish, and Spanish Soldiers wreaking havoc in Germany. Most destructive point of the War. Religious issues become secondary to Political ones • Treaty of Westphalia of 1648: • Stops Ferdinand’s Edict of Restitution • Recognizes Calvinists. • Creates The independence of Swiss Confederacy and provinces of Holland • German princes acknowledged as the supreme rulers over principalities. • Treaty broaden legal status of Protestantism in the realm, but perpetuated Germany’s internal division of political weakness.