French Wars of Religion

1. French Wars of Religion 1562-1598

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 (1574-1559) married Catherine de Medici. Had 3 sons who became monarchs. Catherine acted as regent at various times. • François II (1559-1560) • Charles IX (1560-1574) • Henry III (1574-1589)

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 II1547-1559

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) Charles IX, 1560-74 (born 1550) Henry III, 1574-89 (born 1551)

8. Francis II 1559-60, (born 1544)

9. Guises vs. Bourbons Lack of a strong king, French politics became a power struggle between 2 aristocratic factions: the Guise & the Bourbon.

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.

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 1559-60, (born 1544)

15. The Setting: “Boy King no. 2” Charles IX, 1560-74 (born 1550)

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.

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. 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.

20. St. Batholomew’s Day Massacre, 24 Aug. 1572Wedding of Henry of Navarre to daughter of Catherine de Medici. Admiral Coligny & 3,000 Huguenots slaughteredIn 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 MassacreAugust 24, 1572 • Wedding of Henry of Navarre to Margotde 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 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., 2012. Web. 22 May. 2012://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/248983/Henri-I-de-Lorraine-3e-duke-de-Guise>.

25. Assassination of Henri of Guise

26. Henri of Navarre became Henri IV, the politique. Next in the line of succession, became King Henry IV (1589-1610). 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.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politique

27. “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)