The Wars of Religion: Causes, Nature, and Results

1. TheWars of Religion(1560s-1648) APEURO Lecture 2C Mrs. Kray Some slides taken from Ms. Susan M. Pojer

2. The Wars of Religion are complex. Keep your eye on: (1) the causes, (2) nature, and (3) end results of the wars

3. Philip II: Defender of Catholicism

4. Empire of Charles V

5. Charles V Abdicates, 1556

6. Empire of Philip II

7. The Escorial, 1563-1584 Philip’s royal palace. Also contained the monastery of St. Lawrence as a residence for Jeromite monks and a tomb for his Habsburg ancestors.

8. Spanish Wars of Religion: Revolt in the Netherlands(1566-1587)

9. The Netherlands • 17 provinces of the Netherlands possessed historical liberties: • Self-governing, make own laws, collect own taxes • Charles’ loyalty to the Flemings checked the spread of Lutheranism

10. Causes of the Dutch Revolt • By 1560 strong, militant minority of Calvinists in most Netherland cities • Particularly strong among middle and working classes • Lutheranism was not a threat to Spanish rule, but Calvinism was • Lutheranism taught respect for powers that be • Calvinism encouraged opposition to “illegal” civil authorities • 1559  Philip ordered Protestantism wiped out

11. Archduchess Margaret of Austria • Regent of the Netherlands, 1559-1567 • Philip’s Sister • Ignatius Loyola was her confessor • Pushed Philip’s order  Inquisition • Raised taxes b/c needed $$$to run gov’t • united opposition to the government’s fiscal policy with opposition to the government’s repression of Calvinism

12. Dutch Revolt Begins, 1566 Fanatical Calvinists, primarily from the poorest classes, embarked on a rampage of destruction. Aimed at religious images, not people. Known as iconoclast revolt.

13. Prince William of Orange “William the Silent”

14. Duke of Alva, 1507-1582 • Sent by Philip to pacify the Low Countries • Inquisition + “Council of Blood” • March 3, 1568  1500 men executed • Margaret so sickened she resigned her regency • 1568-78  Civil War raged • All 17 provinces demand end to Spanish Rule

15. Union of Utrecht, 1581 • Alexander Farnese, duke of Parma, crushed the revolt in the South • Spanish Netherlands (modern-day Belgium) • 7 Northern provinces led by Holland declared independence • United Provinces • Ask England for assistance

16. England Gets Involved • Sent 250,000 pounds and 2,000 troops • Why help? • English economy being hurt • Netherlands = England’s chief wool market • Murder of William the Silent eliminated check on Farnese advance • Collapse of Antwerp seemed to signal a Catholic sweep of the Netherlands • Feared next step would be invasion of England Elizabeth I, r. 1558-1603

17. Philip’s English Problem • Frustrated Elizabeth I was supporting the Dutch rebels • English pirates harassed Spanish galleons loaded w/New World treasures • Sir Francis Drake • Philip backed Mary, Queen of Scots plots against Elizabeth • Elizabeth executed Mary • Pope Sixtus V promised Philip 1 million ducats if he invaded England

18. Philip Builds his Spanish Armada Philip’s fleet of more than 130 ships for the invasion of England

19. The Armada Defeated, 1588 • One of the decisive battles in world history • Spain began long period of political and economic decline • Spanish defeat also prevented Philip from re-imposing religious unity on western Europe by force • Dutch entered a “golden age” of prosperity and artistic creativity • England’s power increased

20. French Wars of Religions: Civil War in France (1562-1598)

21. Protestant Churches in France (late 16th c) • French monarchy remained loyal to Rome • Concordat of Bologne, 1516 • Despite this, Calvinism spread • By 1560s -- 10% of the population Huguenots • Especially popular in urban areas and with the nobles • 40% of nobles = Huguenots • Way to express unhappiness with Valois monarchy • This growth was a threat to monarchy b/c these nobles held important gov’t & military positions

22. The Valois Family:The Beginning of the End • Henri II was the last powerful Valois • Three weak sons followed: • Francis II • Charles IX • Henri III • Catherine de Medici controlled the sons: • Was mother to the boys • Played both sides in the civil war • Developed a reputation for cruelty Catherine de Medici

23. The French Civil War, 1572-1598 • There were two sides: • Guise family led ultra-Catholics in North • Backed by Pope and Philip II of Spain • Bourbonfamily led Huguenots in South • Fighting for the royal inheritance • Monarchy & Catherine de Medici caught in the middle • Catherine supported the Guises in 1st phase. • St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre • August 24, 1572 • Wedding of the king’s sister, Margaret of Valois, to the protestant Henry of Navarre • 20,000 Huguenots were killed • Henri of Navarre, a Bourbon, converted to Catholicism and survived

24. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

25. French Civil Wars: War of the Three Henries Henry of Guise Henry III Henry of Navarre • Henry of Guise took the city of Paris • This threatened Valois power • Henry III allied w/Henry of Navarre • Henries invited Guise to the palace on the pretext of compromise  Guise assassinated • Fanatical monk kills Henry III in reprisal

26. War of the Three Henries • Henri of Navarre defeated Catholic League & becomes Henry IV of France. • Effects of Civil War: • France was left divided by religion • Royal power had weakened • Valois family now replaced by Bourbons CatholicLeague CIVILWAR ProtestantUnion

27. Triumphal Entry of Henry IV Into Paris – Peter Paul Reubens

28. Henry IV of France, r. 1589-1610 • Ended Spanish interference in France • Converted to Catholicism: • Example of a politique – interests of the state come before religion • “Paris is worth a mass.” • Did this to compromise and make peace • Fighting for the royal inheritance • Passed Edict of Nantes in 1598: • Granted religious rights to Huguenots • Did not grant religious freedom for all

29. German Wars of Religion: TheThirty Years War (1618-1648)

30. Characteristics of the Thirty Years War • The Holy Roman Empire was the battleground. • In the beginning it was the Catholics vs. the Protestants. • By the end it was Habsburg power that was threatened. German States 1618-1648

31. Holy Roman Empire: Late 16th c • Peace of Augsburg provided uneasy truce • Problems: • Calvinists not mentioned in settlement • Lutherans violating the peace by acquiring German bishoprics • Jesuits reconverting several Lutheran princes • Two armed camps • Protestant Union, 1608 • Catholic League, 1609 • Each determined to prevent religious/territorial advance of the other

32. The Bohemian Phase: 1618-1622 • Ferdinand II inherited Bohemia. • The Bohemians hated him. • Ferdinand refused to tolerate Protestants. • Defenestration of Prague May, 1618 • Bohemia named a new king, Frederick V of Palatine. Protestants hurled two of Ferdinand’s officials from a castle window in Prague. They were saved by a pile of soft horse manure or angels depending on which side you were on.

33. The Bohemian Phase Cont. • Characterized as a civil war in Bohemia between the Catholic League led by Ferdinand and the Protestant Union led by Fredrick. • Catholics win • Ferdinand II becomes Holy Roman Emperor & was victorious. • Frederick V borrowed an army from Bavaria. • Frederick lost his lands in the fighting. • But rebellion in Bohemia inspired others.

34. Bohemian Phase

35. The Danish Phase: 1625-1629 • Ferdinand II tried to crush Protestantism in HRE • Christian IV of Denmark entered the conflict to support Protestant cause & gain terrtory • Ferdinand II used Albrecht von Wallenstein for the army. • Wallenstein defeated Protestants in north. • Edict of Restitution (1629): • Restored to Catholics all lands lost since 1552. • Deprived all Protestants, except Lutherans, of their religious and political rights. • Ferdinand on the verge of centralizing power • German princes feared Ferdinand  he fired Wallenstein in effort to calm them. Albrechtvon Wallenstein

36. Danish Phase

37. The Swedish Phase: 1630-1635 • France & Sweden now get involved. • Both want to stop Habsburg power. • Sweden led the charge. • France provided support. • GustavusAdolphusinvaded the HRE • Ferdinand II brought back Wallenstein. • Swedish advance was stopped. • German princes still feared Ferdinand II. • Wallenstein assassinated to appease them and b/c he’s negotiating independently w/Swedes • Ferdinand revoked Edict of Restitution & signed Peace of Prague w/German states in 1635 Gustavus Adolphus

38. Swedish Phase

39. The French Phase: 1635-1648 • France & Sweden switched roles b/c GustavusAdolphus died • All countries in Europe now participated. • Most destructive phase of the war • German towns decimated. • Agriculture collapsed  famine resulted. • 8 million dead  1/3 of the population [from 21 million in 1618 to 13.5 million in 1648] • Caused massive inflation. • Trade was crippled throughout Europe. Loss of German Lives in 30 Years’ War

40. The Peace of Westphalia (1648) • Hundred of diplomats representing the German states, France, Sweden, Spain, the Dutch and the pope met in Westphalia

41. The Peace of Westphalia (1648) • Over 300 German states received the right to conduct diplomacy and make treaties • Really no longer under the control of the Holy Roman Emperor • Rulers were to decide the religious faith in their territories • Calvinism was recognized as an acceptable faith • Independence of the Dutch Republic and neutrality of Switzerland were formally recognized • France annexed part of German-speaking Alsace • Sweden received additional territory around the Baltic • Brandenberg gained important territories along the Baltic and Central Germany • Pope’s objections largely ignored • Underscored growing degree of secularization taking place

42. Europe 1688-1700

43. Impact of Peace of Westphalia • No one is happy • Many Protestants felt betrayed. • The 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.

44. Long-Term Effects of 30 Years War • Germany devastatedt • 30% of population lost • Commercial growth damaged • Germany was politically fragmented for years to come • New nations rose to prominence • HRE done as a major player in European affairs • France emerged as the strongest power in Europe • Spain’s long decline began • Other new emerging powers: Sweden, Prussia, & Dutch Republic • Each nation has sovereignty over its own religious affairs • No religious unity for Europe • Military revolution in Europe • Gunpowder, mounted foot-soldier played a major role • Tactics became more flexible • Gov’t became larger and more centralized to deal with the increasing costs and complexity of war