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French Wars of Religion (1562-98). French Wars of Religion. Seemed an unlikely place for religious war Henry II accidentally killed Catherine de ’ Medici dominated (1519-89). French Wars of Religion. Concerned by growth of Calvinism, French kings persecuted them
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French Wars of Religion (1562-98)
French Wars of Religion • Seemed an unlikely place for religious war • Henry II accidentally killed • Catherine de’ Medici dominated (1519-89)
French Wars of Religion • Concerned by growth of Calvinism, French kings persecuted them • Huguenots came from all levels of society
French Wars of Religion • It is possible that 40-50% of the nobility became Huguenots • Constituted for apprx. 10% of population
French Wars of Religion • Extreme Catholic party—known as the ultra-Catholics • Led by Guise family • Had loyalty of Paris, and N./N.E. France • Ironically the Guise family posed a threat to the Catholic Valois dynasty Henry Duke of Guise (1550-88)
French Wars of Religion • Wars erupted in 1562: duke of Guise massacred peaceful congregation • During the 1560s: Huguenots were too small a group to conquer France, but could not be defeated either
French Wars of Religion • “Compromise”: marriage of reigning Valois king Charles IX’s sister to Henry of Navarre (Bourbon ruler of Navarre) • Many traveled to Paris for wedding • Guise family persuaded king & his mother that Huguenots posed a threat Margaret Valois
French Wars of Religion • St Bartholomew's Day Massacre: began early on August 24, 1572 • King’s guards killed prominent Huguenot leaders • Unleashed wave of violence • Lasted about 3 days • Approx. 3,000 Huguenots dead
French Wars of Religion-War of the 3 Henries • Current ruler was Henry III (1574-89), succeeded brother—Charles IX • Ultra Catholics wanted to place Henry duke of Guise on throne • Seized Paris (through the pay of Philip II) & forced Henry III to make him chief minister Henry III Henry Duke of Guise
French Wars of Religion-War of the 3 Henries • Henry III assassinated duke of Guise, joined with Henry Navarre (returned to Calvinism) who was next in line to the throne • Henry III assassinated in 1589 • Henry Navarre claimed throne (converted back to Catholicism)
French Wars of Religion • Edict of Nantes (1598): • Acknowledged Catholicism as official religion of France but, • Guaranteed Huguenots right to worship in selected places • Huguenots could enjoy all political privileges
Philip II & Spain • Philip II ( 1556-98) • Son of Charles V • Inherited Spain, Netherlands, possessions in Italy & New World • Aggressively used the Inquisition • Palace: El Escorial • Demonstrated his power & faith
Philip II & Spain • Wanted to make Spain a dominant power in Europe • Importation of silver was detrimental: spiraling inflation • Did not have a true middle class
Philip II & Spain • War (especially after 1580) was devastating to the economy • Philip II in many ways led to the decline of Spain
Philip II & Spain • “Most Catholic king” **became champion of Catholicism throughout Europe -led to several great victories (Lepanto 1571), but equally great defeats (Elizabeth I)
Revolt in the Netherlands • One of the richest parts of Philip’s empire • Netherlands: consisted of 17 provinces • 7 Northern were largely Germanic in culture and Dutch speaking • 10 Southern: French and Flemish speaking, tied to France
Revolt in the Netherlands • b/c of location, Netherlands had many religious influences: Lutheranism, Anabaptists, and Calvinism • Did not have real political bond, except common ruler: Philip II
Revolt in the Netherlands • Philip wanted to strengthen his control • This was opposed by nobles, towns, etc. who stood to lose politically • Resentment intensified when the Dutch realized the taxes they paid were used for Spanish interests
Revolt in the Netherlands • Religion became a major catalyst for revolt: • Philip II wanted to reorganize the structure of the Dutch Catholic Church • Also wanted to crush heresy
Revolt in the Netherlands • Violence erupted in 1566: Calvinists (especially nobles) destroyed statues/stained glass windows in Catholic churches • Philip II responded by sending duke of Alba with (approximately) 10,000 troops to crush the rebellion Duke of Alba
Revolt in the Netherlands • Duke of Alba: oppressive—levied a permanent sales tax, alienating merchants & commoners • They joined with the nobles and Calvinists, against Spanish rule • Duke was removed in 1573 • Council of Troubles: • Nicknamed by the Dutch as Council of Blood • Created reign of terror
Revolt in the Netherlands • William of Orange emerged as the resistance leader • William of Orange wanted to unify all 17 provinces • 1576, Pacification of Ghent: 1.)said that all provinces would stand together under W. of O, 2.)respect religious differences, & 3.)demand Spanish troops be removed William of Orange
Revolt in the Netherlands • Duke of Parma: next Spanish leader • Played upon the religious differences of the provinces, splitting them • Union of Arras • Southern Provinces • 1579, formed a Catholic union • accepted Spanish rule Duke of Parma
Revolt in the Netherlands • Union of Utrecht • Organized by William of Orange • Northern- Dutch speaking Provinces • Opposed Spanish rule • Wanted to organize under France or Elizabeth I—neither worked • Netherlands now divided along religious, geographical, and political lines
Revolt in the Netherlands • Even though Elizabeth I refused to lead the N. Provinces, she did assist them militarily • Struggle in the Dutch area continued after both Philip II and Elizabeth I had died
Revolt in the Netherlands • 1609: Twelve Years’ Truce in the Netherlands • Virtually recognized the independence of the N. provinces • “United Provinces” emerged as the Dutch Republic— Spanish did not recognize them until 1648 • Southern provinces remained a Spanish possession
Elizabeth I • Daughter of Anne Boleyn & Henry VIII • Cleaned up Mary I’s “mess” • Catholics were majority when she took the crown • R efused marriage to Philip II
Elizabeth I • Queen Mary of Scots • Had legitimate claim to the English throne • Had to flee Scotland • Lived under house arrest in England • Had plots to assassinate Elizabeth • Elizabeth I beheaded her
Elizabeth I • Spain and England • Philip II wanted to invade England • Elizabeth I was helping in the Dutch region • Elizabeth beheaded Mary of Scots • Philip II’s advisers claimed the people of England would rise against their queen
Elizabeth I • 1588--Spanish fleet , battered on numerous occasions, were forced to sail north around Scotland • Defeat of Spanish Armada ensured England would be Protestant • Psychological blow to Spaniards
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • Often called last of the “religious wars” • However, as war continued it was clear that dynastic-nationalist considerations were more important • Historians view it as a struggle b/w the Bourbons and Hapsburgs (HRE & Spain)
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • Background to the War • 1.)Since beginning of 16th c., France felt “encircled” by Hapsburgs • 2.) Spain saw 12 year truce with Netherlands (1609) as temporary…wanted to regain control • 3.) Austrian Hapsburgs wished to consolidate their holdings & eliminate Protestantism…also H R Emperors were frustrated by lack of power
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • Beginnings: • During the early 17th century Elector Frederick IV (a Calvinist) formed a league of German States into the Protestant Union • Gained support of Dutch , English, and French • To counteract: a Catholic League of German States was formed by Duke Maximilian • Gained support of Spain & HRE
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • Historians historically have divided the 30 yrs. War into 4 phases: • PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase (1618-25) • 1617: Bohemian Estates (mostly nobles) accepted Archduke Ferdinand as their king Ferdinand II
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase (1618-25) cont. • Ferdinand tried to “re-catholicize” Bohemia…making the Protestant nobility upset • Protestant nobility rebelled in 1618 • Rebels deposed Ferdinand, replaced with Elector Frederick V Frederick V
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase (1618-25) cont. • Meanwhile, Ferdinand was elected H R Emperor • With the help of the Catholic League, imperial forces defeated Frederick (& the Bohemians) @ the Battle of White Mountain (Nov. 8, 1620)
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) **PHASE # 1: Bohemian phase (1618-25) cont. • Spain took advantage of Frederick’s weakness, gained western parts of the Palatinate • Ferdinand confiscated Protestant lands, and Catholicism was the sole religion
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 2: Danish Phase (1625-29) • King Christian IV of Denmark (a Lutheran) invaded northern Germany (on behalf of the Protestant cause & he would gain lands that would give him control of the southern Baltic) • Imperial forces led by Albrecht von Wallenstein • Christian IV soundly defeated Wallenstein
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 2: Danish Phase (1625-29) cont. • Christian IV’s defeat meant end of Danish involvement in 30 yrs. War & Danish Supremacy in the Baltic • Ferdinand was at his height of power • Issued Edict of Restitution (1629):prohibited Calvinist worship, & gave back Catholic lands that were taken by Protestants in the last 75 yrs. • Wallenstein was dismissed Christian IV
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 3: Swedish Phase (1630-35) • Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, received financial support from France • Motivated by gaining complete control of the Baltic Sea & religion ( he was a Lutheran), Adolphus brought his army into northern Germany Adolphus
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 3: Swedish Phase (1630-35) cont. • Imperial forces recalled Wallenstein • @ Battle of Lutzen: Swedish forces won…but Adolphus was killed • Wallenstein was assassinated in 1634
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 3: Swedish Phase (1630-35) cont. • Imperial forces won Battle of Nordlingen, guaranteeing southern Germany would be Catholic • H R Emperor tried to make peace with the German princes and revoked the 1629 Edict of Restitution
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 4: Franco-Swedish Phase (1635-48) • By this time religious issues lost significance, dynastic powers were more important • Catholic French were supporting Protestant Swedes against Catholic Hapsburgs of Germany & Spain Cardinal Richelieu
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • PHASE # 4: Franco-Swedish Phase (1635-48) cont. • Most decisive battle: Battle of Rocroi (1643), France beat Spain…ending Spanish military greatness • War in Germany officially ended with Peace of Westphalia (1648) • War b/w France and Spain continued until 1659 w/ the Peace of the Pyrenees
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • Results of the 30 yrs. War: • 1.)Ensured all German States were free to determine own religion • 2.)France gained Western parts of Germany, now controlling the Franco-Germanic border (which will become excellent military bases in the future)
Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) • Results of the 30 yrs. War: • 3.)Austrian Hapsburgs saw authority as rulers of Germany further diminish • 4.)the more than 300 states that made up the HRE were virtually independent, bringing an end to the HRE as a political entity • 5.) made clear that religion and politics are separate worlds (pope excluded from all decisions @ Westphalia