Defenders of the Faith

Written By: James Reston, Jr.

Presentation By: Matthew Bishop

Two Rulers

• The story starts with Charles V asserting his control over his numerous state possessions.

• He is also attempting to quell the last two European nations that pose a threat to him: France and England.

• First Charles sets out to renew positive relations with Henry VIII of England and to encourage them to make friends with France.

• On the other side of the Mediterranean, Suleiman, son of Selim the grim, was assuming control of his vast Ottoman empire.

• That vast empire was the result of generations of conquering by his father and his fathers.

• The direction for expansion was to obtain Italy and Rhodes. Suleiman sought to control the whole Mediterranean.

• Pope Leo X responds to Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses by excommunicating him and ordering all his materials burned.

• Furthermore, if Luther does not cease and take back what he said he is to be burned at the stake.

• Luther's movement provided the opportunity to weaken the Church's control of the German region and thus, German princes such as Franz von Sickingen offered Luther protection.

• Luther was requested at the Vatican to answer his crimes nut failed to show citing poor health and poverty.

• Cardinal Cajetan was sent to confront Luther and make him recant but failed to do so as Luther fled after the debates.

The Reformation

Henry and Francis

• Henry and Francis were the third pair of leaders at odds with each other.

• Charles was pushing for an alliance between the two but negotiations were being stalled intentionally by both sides.

• Negotiations took place at the Field of the Cloth of Gold.• There the kings and nobles jousted, wrestled, and fenced in

between negotiations.• Francis angered Henry by knocking him on his back in a

wrestling match.• In the end, the two nations parted with only a fake sense of

trust.• In reality they were preparing for war.

The First Struggles

• Charles' arrival in Aachen was greeted warmly by those who supported him as he paid respect to Charlemagne.

• As a requirement for his coronation, Charles had to sign a constitution for the people guaranteeing a fair trial.

• Martin Luther, at the request of the pope, was to be the first given such a trial.

• Suleiman claimed his throne and inherited with it a rebellious Syrian region and a resistant Hungarian nation.

• His first act was to destroy the rebel leader Ghazali and his forces.

• With his other borders considerably peaceful, he turned his eyes north.

• He hoped to succeed where his fathers had failed in taking Hungary.

Suleiman's Advance

• While the Europeans were on the verge of a religious civil war, Suleiman proceeded north to capture Belgrade.

• Suleiman departed Constantinople with an impressive army and navy and advanced upon Belgrade.

• After several weeks of siege, the sultan forced their surrender and reconstructed and fortified the fortress.

• Suleiman then turned his eyes towards the island of Rhodes.

• Rhodes was a fortified island of the Knights of Saint John the Hospitallers, survivors from the defeat of Acre.

• They successfully held on to the island of Rhodes for centuries, despite its location immediately next to the Ottoman Empire.