The Wars of Religion1559-1648

Ch. 15: War and Crisis

Hapsburg-Valois Wars (1519-1559)

• 1559: Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis ended the wars

• France prevented HRE from taking all of Germany– Political motive to keep Germany weak over

religious issue of Lutheranism

• Spain took control of Sicily, Naples, and Milan and influence over Papal States and Tuscany during its Golden Age (16th C.)

1559-1648Issues:• Spain seeking to crush Protestantism in western

Europe and Islam in Mediterranean• French Catholics trying to stop Huguenots• HRE trying to re-impose Catholicism in Germany• Calvinist Netherlands trying to break away from

Spain• England: Civil War between Puritans and

Anglicans

I. Spain under Phillip II (1556-1598)• Son of HRE Charles V• Controlled the Netherlands, southern Italy,

and the Americas• Ruled during “Golden Age”• Sought to re-impose Catholicism in Europe• Built new palace: El Escorial in Madrid. Both

a monastery and a palace. Part of Counter-Reformation and built with New World gold

European territories under the rule of the Spanish King around 1580 (the Spanish Netherlands in light green) on a map showing Modern-Day State borders.

Battle of Lepanto, 1571• Led by Don John of Austria

(bastard son of Charles V) to halt Turkish advance into Europe – Defeat of Turkish navy off coast

of Greece, Ionian Sea

• Holy League (mainly Spanish & Italian) forces under the pope rid threat of Islamic control of the Mediterranean

• Considered the turning point in preserving “Christian” Europe

The Dutch Revolt: Spain vs. Netherlands

• William of Orange (1533-1584) led 17 provinces against the Spanish Inquisition

• Formation of the Dutch Republic in 1581– Aided by Elizabeth I– Spanish Netherlands

(Belgium today) remained under Spanish control

– Dutch closing of the Scheldt River led to shift from Antwerp to Amsterdam as Europe’s commercial center

The 17 Provinces of the Netherlands prior to the Dutch Rebellion.

Spain vs. England: Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 1588

• Mary I widower, Phillip II wanted to rule England

• Elizabeth I refusal to marry him and her aid of the Netherlands’ independence movement fueled his invasion

• Smaller, but better trained English navy combined with storm in English Channel led to crushing victory over “unbeatable” Spanish Armada

• Signaled rise of England as naval power

Speech at Tilbury

Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 1588

• “I know I have the body of a weak and feeble women, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm.”

The Armada Portrait

II. French Wars of Religion (at least 9 from 1562-1598)

• After the death of Henry II (1559) a power struggle between three noble families for throne: Valois, Bourbon, and Guise

• Valois: from 1559-1589 3 weak monarchs due to illness or underage but provided continuity under Queen Mother Catherine de Medici. Catholic, but moderate and humanistic.

• Bourbons: Huguenots (French Calvinists) accounted for more than half nobility. Bourbons next in line if no Valois heir.

• Guise: aggressive “Super-Catholics.” Massacred Huguenots in 1562 setting off religious wars

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, 1572• Murder of Huguenot leader by Duke of Guise under claim of

preventing a coup• August 24, St. Bartholomew’s Day, murders and mutilations

of thousands of Huguenots began in Paris and throughout French cities, lasting for days

• Phillip II and Pope Gregory XIII (who blessed the massacre) rejoiced that a Protestant coup had failed– Protestant countries refused to accept Gregorian calendar as a result of this

(and Spanish Armada) resulting in use of both Julian and Gregorian calendars throughout Europe

War of the Three Henry’s

• Henry III (Valois)• Henry of Navarre (Bourbon

cousin – a Huguenot)• Henry, Duke of Guise (militant

leader of the Catholic League) – killed by Henry III, who was then assassinated

• Set off war between Henry of Navarre and Catholic League– Henry of Navarre converted to

Catholicism “Paris vaut bien une messe” and becomes Henry IV

Henry III Henry of Navarre Duke of Guise

Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) r. 1589-1610

• First Bourbon king• One of most important in French

history• Practical politician rather than

ideological• Reign ended French civil wars and

moved France towards absolutism– Expanded use of the paulette

• Privately remained Calvinist• Assassinated in 1610 by a Catholic

fanatic– Throne passes to son, Louis XIII

Edict of Nantes, 1589• Established freedom of religion• Permitted Huguenots right to

worship privately only– Not allowed to worship in Paris

or other Catholic cities• Gave access to universities, public

office, and right to maintain 200 fortified towns for self-protection

• Gave more religious protection to Huguenots than any other religious minority in Europe

France under regency

Cardinal Richelieu• Chief Minister who controlled

government for young King Louis XIII

• Concentrated power• Abolished most of Edict of Nantes• Increased sale of offices and raised

royal revenues short term– Long term depletion to pay

salaries– Used intendents to collect taxes,

upsetting peasant and noble alike

Cardinal Mazarin• Regent for Louis XIV• Withheld payment of salaries• Fronde Revolts (1648-1653)

– Parlement wanted constitutional monarchy and more power to approve taxation

– Started under Richelieu, continued under Mazarin

– Royal family fled– Mazarin used army to quell rebellion

and reassert monarchy – rise of absolutism

III. Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)Most important war of the 17th century

• Failure of the Peace of Augsburg (1555)

• Gave German princes right to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism in their states

• Truce lasted for 60 years until factionalism in the HRE

IV. English Civil War (Puritan Revolution)

James I (r. 1603-1625)• Divine Right king• Absolutist who challenged

Parliament on taxes and civil liberties– Twice dissolved Parliament

over taxation and free speech– Parliament had many Puritan

and Presbyterian members• Defender of Anglican Church

Charles I (r. 1625-1649)• Claimed divine right, sought to rule

without Parliament & English Church• 1628: signed Petition of Right limiting

King’s power to tax• Eleven Years’ Tyranny (1629-1640):

dissolved Parliament and ruled as absolute monarch

• Raised money forcefully• “ship money” – all counties required to

pay to outfit ships, not just coastal areas• Religious persecution of Puritans: main

catalyst for Civil War

Two issues prior to the Civil War:1.Could the king govern without the consent of Parliament?2.Would the Anglican Church adopt the Episcopal form or the Presbyterian form?

Civil War, 1642-1649Cavaliers (Royalists) vs. Roundheads (Puritans in Parliament)

• New Model Army led by Roundhead Oliver Cromwell victorious in 1649– Division between Puritans and

Presbyterians– 1648: Pride’s Purge-parts of New

Model Army removes all non-Puritans from Parliament creating “Rump Parliament” (only 20%)

• Charles I beheaded: first king in European history to be executed by own people

The Interregnum (1649-1660)

The Commonwealth• A republic created;

abolished monarchy and House of Lords

• Cromwell becomes Lord Protector– Dissolved the Rump

Parliament in 1653– Denies religious freedom to

Catholics and Anglicans– Allows Jews to return (exiled

in 1290)

The Protectorate (1653-1659)• 1649: Cromwell invades

Ireland to quell royalist rebels– Act of Settlement (1652): land

from 2/3 Catholic landlords given to Protestant English colonists

– Brutal occupation: 15-20% population died

• 1651: Cromwell conquered Scotland– Scots supported Presbyterians

The Commonwealth

Puritan rule• Government used army to

regulate moral behavior:– No dancing, gambling,

alcohol, or prostitution allowed

– Alienated English population

• Cromwell’s son inherited throne but could not maintain rule

Arms of Oliver Cromwell

The Restoration, 1660-1685

Charles II (r. 1660-1685)• Stuarts restored to monarchy in 1660

by Cavalier Parliament1. Charles II returns from exile to rule;

does not restore divine right of kings 1679 passage of Habeas Corpus

Act under Whig Parliament2. Parliament was stronger in relation

to the king than ever before3. Agreed to religious toleration4. Succeeded by Catholic brother,

James II (1685-88)

First political parties• Whigs

– Initially anti-Catholic and opposed to James II

– Later, wealthy middle-class and Puritans favoring Parliament and religious toleration

– Classically liberal• Tories

– Initially supported James II– Nobles, gentry, and Anglicans who

supported monarchy over Parliament – conservatives

Essay Questions:1. Analyze the impact that religion played in the Dutch Revolt, the French Civil

Wars, the Thirty Years’ War, and the English Civil War.2. Analyze the extent to which the religious policies of the following rulers were

successful:– Phillip II– Elizabeth I– Henry IV– James I & Charles I– Oliver Cromwell

3. To what degree did religion and politics play in the Thirty Years’ War?4. Analyze the impact of the Thirty Years’ War on European politics.5. To what extent did the wars of religion result in the decline of the Spanish

Empire?6. Analyze the causes of the English Civil War and the impact of Puritan rule on

English politics and society.