The Wars of Religion

1. The Wars of Religion 1560s - 1648

3. Factors Leading to the Wars of Religion 1. Protestant Reformation 2. Catholic Reformation 3. Prevailing medieval mental linking religion with political issues The Wars of Religion will start in GERMANY

4. Round 1: Germany (1521-1555) • HRE Charles V had troubles: • Little control over the HRE (Germany)  patchwork of over 300 principalities (resisting his authority) • Size of the HRE  border issues from France and the Ottoman Turks • Plagued with money problems  can’t fund his armies • This keeps Charles V from dealing with the Lutherans for over 20 years!

5. Round 1: Germany (1521-1555) • 1546  Charles V attacked and defeated an alliance of Lutheran princes (Schmalkaldic League) but he was never able to impose firm control • 1555  Charles V agrees to the Peace of Augsburg • Compromise giving each German prince the right to choose the realm's religion as long as it was Catholic or Lutheran

6. Round 1: Germany (1521-1555) • Peace of Augsburg outlawed Calvinists, Anabaptists, other non-Lutheran Protestants • This causes problems: • 1. Calvinism keeps spreading across Germany • 2. Charles V gives up his throne after 30 years • 3. Thousands of refugees flee to the Spanish Netherlands, France, and England  spreads Calvinist and Anabaptist beliefs

7. Round 1: Germany (1521-1555) • Charles V’s abdication leads to more problems: • 1. Lands in Austria and the Imperial title goes to his brother Ferdinand • 2. Charles V’s son Philip II (a staunch Catholic) inherits Spain, the Netherlands, most of Italy • This spreads the religious violence to other countries!

8. The Spanish Netherlands (1566-1648) • Philip II abused the Spanish Netherlands • Taxed them heavily to pay for his Spanish wars • Tried to impose his Catholic beliefs on them • Brought in the Inquisition to get rid of Calvinists and Anabaptists • Started a cycle of revolts/protests and Spanish repression until 1648 • 1648  Spain recognized Dutch independence

9. The French (1562-1598) • Catholic majority against the Huguenot (French Calvinists) minority • Conflict last for over 30 years b/c: • Huguenots had a number of leaders who were nobles • Concentrated in largely fortified cities • Enthusiastic and well organized into local congregations • This bred a cycle of chaos/destruction where anarchy would steadily weaken the French gov’t power

10. The French (1562-1598) • A series of assassination after 1588 (defeat of the Spanish Armada) led to a Huguenot duke inheriting the throne  Henry IV • He “converts” to Catholicism to give his enemies no reason to kill him • Grants the Huguenots religious freedom with the Edict of Nantes in 1598 – does not grant freedom for all! • The French were will to submit to a stronger rule in order to stop the warfare  this would set the stage for Louis XIV

11. Elizabethan England and the Spanish Armada • Extremely tolerant, excellent leader to her people  a “golden age” for England (1558-1603) • Philip II wants to re-establish Catholicism in England • Tries to put Mary Queen of Scots (Catholic) on the throne in the 1570’s  Elizabeth imprisons then executes her • Elizabeth help the Dutch against Spain, raids Spanish shipping

12. Elizabethan England and the Spanish Armada • Philip’s Plan: Armada and Spanish Army in Flanders would meet up  crush the English  crush the Dutch rebels  crush the Huguenots • Spain looked like the superior power but England developed new tactics and ship designs that revolutionized naval warfare • Sleeker ships powered by sails • Relied on cannons (new design)

13. Elizabethan England and the Spanish Armada The English attacked when the Spanish stopped in Calais to get supplies and contact the Army of Flanders Forced the Spanish out into the open  used superior ship speed and power to defeat the Spanish A “protestant wind” (storm) added to the damage By the time the Spanish fleet returned home, half of it had been destroyed

14. Decline of Spain This did not destroy Spain as a power but did signal the end of Spanish dominance in Europe! Spain wreaks itself in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) France will replace Spain as the main superpower Dutch Republic and England become the dominant naval and economic powers in Europe

15. Change in European Mentality People are tired of religious wars and disputes People take a more secular (worldly) view By the late 1600’s these views would develop into the scientific and cultural movement know as the Enlightenment

16. The Thirty Years War 1618-1648

17. Characteristics of the Thirty Years War Holy Roman Empire is the battleground At the beginning  Catholics vs. Protestants At the end  Hapsburg power that was threatened Resolved with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648

18. Causes of the Thirty Years War • Causes: Religious Wars and fear of Hapsburg Spain and Austria (ruling family dynasty) • Europe is split into two camps: • Protestant: German P’s, Denmark, Dutch Republic, England, Sweden, Catholic Venice, and Catholic France • Catholic: German C’s, Spain, Austria, Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Milan, the Papacy, and Poland • Kings and princes building up armies in preparation

20. Bohemian Phase: 1618-1622 • Ferdinand II inherited Bohemia • Bohemians hate him • Ferdinand refused to tolerate Protestants • Defenestration of Prague  May 1618 • Bohemia named a new king, Frederick II

21. Bohemian Phase: 1618-1622 • Frederick is a mediocre king • Ferdinand sweeps away Bohemian opposition • Confiscated large tracts of land • Exile Protestants • Reclaimed Bohemia for the Catholic Church • The rebellion in Bohemia inspired others!

22. Danish Phase: 1625-1629 • Ferdi tried to end all resistance • Tried to crush Protestant northern HRE • Used Albrecht von Wallenstein to for the army • Bohemian military leader and politician,offered his servicesand an army of 30,000 - 100,000 men • Wallenstein defeated the Protestants in the north

23. Danish Phase: 1625-1629 • Edict of Restitution: 1629 • Restored to Catholics all lands lost since 1552 • Deprived all Protestants, except Lutherans, of their religious and political rights • However, German princes feared Ferdinand  he fired Wallenstein in an effort to calm them

25. The Swedish Phase: 1630-1635 • France & Sweden get involved • Both want to stop the Hapsburg power • Sweden led the charge, France supported • Gustavus Adolphus invaded the HRE • Ferdi II brought back Wallenstein • Swedish advance stopped • German princes still fear Ferdi  Wallenstein assassinated to appease them

27. The French Phase: 1635-1648 • France and Sweden switch roles • All countries in Europe now participated • This is the most destructive phase! • German towns decimated • Agriculture collapsed  famine resulted • 8 million dead  1/3 of population (1618-1648) • Caused massive inflation • Trade crippled throughout Europe

28. Loss of German Lives in the Thirty Years War

29. Peace of Westphalia (1648) • Political and Religious Provisions  But no one was happy! • Many Protestants felt betrayed • Pope denounced it • Only merit  it ended the fighting in a war that became intolerable • For the next few centuries, this war was blamed for everything that went wrong in Central Europe

32. Change in European Mentality People are tired of religious wars and disputes People take a more secular (worldly) view By the late 1600’s these views would develop into the scientific and cultural movement know as the Enlightenment