Europe's Wars of Religion

Introduction

• Discussed Protestant Reformation in previous videos.
• Focus on Europe's religious wars and conflicts.

France's Wars of Religion

• Protestantism Spread in France
  • 1500s: Predominantly Catholic, but Protestantism gains a foothold by 1560s.
  • Calvinism popular among French Protestants (Huguenots).
  • Half of the French nobility became Huguenots.
• Conflict Under Charles IX
  • Charles IX took the throne at 11; mother Catherine de Medici ruled.
  • Catherine opposed Huguenots, viewed them as a threat.
• French Wars of Religion
  • Began in 1562 with Massacre of Vassy.
  • St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572): Mass killing of Huguenots.
  • War of the Three Henrys:
    • Henry III, Henry of Guise, Henry of Navarre.
    • Henry of Navarre becomes Henry IV, promotes religious tolerance (Edict of Nantes, 1598).

Spain's Role

• Habsburg Rule
  • Spain heavily Catholic under Habsburgs.
  • Philip II ruled from 1556, opposed Protestantism.
• Conflicts
  • Ottoman Empire: Spain repelled Ottoman expansion.
  • Netherlands: Growing Calvinist faction, led by William of Orange, declared independence from Spain (1581).
  • England: Elizabeth I supported Protestantism, defeated Spanish Armada.

The Thirty Years' War

• Background
  • Peace of Augsburg (1555): Allowed princes to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism.
• Defenestration of Prague
  • Triggered conflict in Bohemia under Catholic Ferdinand.
• Four Phases
  • Bohemian Phase: Catholic victory at Battle of White Mountain.
  • Danish Phase: King Christian IV supported Protestants, Catholic victory.
  • Swedish Phase: Gustavus Adolphus led Protestants to victory, supported by France.
  • French Phase: France fought Spain to weaken Habsburgs.

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

• Ended European religious wars.
• Amended Peace of Augsburg to include Calvinism.
• Marked end of universal Christendom.
• Weakened Holy Roman Empire, strengthened individual states.

Conclusion

• Complex period of religious and political conflicts.
• Shift from religious to political motivations during wars.