Politics, Religion, Politics, Religion, and Warand War

The origins of difficulties in FranceThe origins of difficulties in France By 1500, France was recovering from By 1500, France was recovering from

plague and disorder, and the nobility plague and disorder, and the nobility began to lose power. began to lose power.

The French kings, such as Francis I and The French kings, such as Francis I and Henry II, continued the policies of Henry II, continued the policies of centralization and were great patrons of centralization and were great patrons of Renaissance art but spent more money Renaissance art but spent more money than they raised. than they raised.

The wars between France and Emperor The wars between France and Emperor Charles V--the Habsburg-Valois wars--Charles V--the Habsburg-Valois wars--were also costly. were also costly.

Francis I Henry II

To raise money, Francis sold public offices To raise money, Francis sold public offices and signed the Concordat of Bologna and signed the Concordat of Bologna (1516), in which he recognized the (1516), in which he recognized the supremacy of the papacy in return for the supremacy of the papacy in return for the right to appoint French bishops. right to appoint French bishops. This settlement established Catholicism as the This settlement established Catholicism as the

state religion in France. state religion in France. It also perpetuated corruption within the French It also perpetuated corruption within the French

church. church. The corruption made Calvinism attractive to The corruption made Calvinism attractive to

Christians eager for reform: some clergy and Christians eager for reform: some clergy and members of the middle and artisan classes.members of the middle and artisan classes.

Religious riots and civil war in FranceReligious riots and civil war in France The French nobility, many of them Calvinist, The French nobility, many of them Calvinist,

attempted to regain power over a series of attempted to regain power over a series of weak monarchs. weak monarchs.

Henry III’s mother, Catherine de Medici, Henry III’s mother, Catherine de Medici, dominated French policy.dominated French policy.

Frequent religious riots symbolized the Frequent religious riots symbolized the struggle for power in the upper classes and struggle for power in the upper classes and serious religious concerns among the lower serious religious concerns among the lower classes. classes.

Catherine de Medici

The Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre The Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre of Calvinists in 1572 led to the War of the of Calvinists in 1572 led to the War of the Three Henrys, a damaging conflict for Three Henrys, a damaging conflict for secular power. secular power.

King Henry IV's Edict of Nantes (1598) King Henry IV's Edict of Nantes (1598) saved France from further civil war by saved France from further civil war by allowing Protestants allowing Protestants

to worship. to worship.

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Edict of Nantes

The Netherlands under Charles VThe Netherlands under Charles V

The Low Countries were part of the The Low Countries were part of the Habsburg empire and enjoyed Habsburg empire and enjoyed commercial success and relative commercial success and relative autonomy. autonomy.

In 1556 Charles V abdicated and In 1556 Charles V abdicated and divided his empire between his brother, divided his empire between his brother, Ferdinand, and his son, King Philip of Ferdinand, and his son, King Philip of Spain.Spain.

The revolt of the Netherlands (1556-The revolt of the Netherlands (1556-

1587)1587) Calvinism took deep root among the Calvinism took deep root among the

merchants and financiers. merchants and financiers.

Regent Margaret attempted to destroy Regent Margaret attempted to destroy Protestantism by establishing the Inquisition Protestantism by establishing the Inquisition in the Netherlands. in the Netherlands.

She also raised taxes, causing those who She also raised taxes, causing those who opposed the repression of Calvinism to unite opposed the repression of Calvinism to unite with those who opposed the taxes. with those who opposed the taxes.

Popular support for Protestantism led to the Popular support for Protestantism led to the destruction of many Catholic churches. destruction of many Catholic churches.

The duke of Alva and his Spanish troops The duke of Alva and his Spanish troops were sent by Philip II to crush the were sent by Philip II to crush the disturbances in the Low Countries. disturbances in the Low Countries.

Alva's brutal actions only inflamed the Alva's brutal actions only inflamed the religious war, which raged from 1568 to religious war, which raged from 1568 to 1578. 1578.

The Low Countries were finally split into the The Low Countries were finally split into the Spanish Netherlands in the south, under the Spanish Netherlands in the south, under the control of the Spanish Habsburgs, and the control of the Spanish Habsburgs, and the independent United Provinces of the independent United Provinces of the Netherlands in the north. Netherlands in the north.

The north was Protestant and ruled by the The north was Protestant and ruled by the commercial aristocracy. commercial aristocracy.

The south was Catholic and ruled by the landed The south was Catholic and ruled by the landed nobility.nobility.

Elizabeth I of England supported the Elizabeth I of England supported the northern, or Protestant, cause as a northern, or Protestant, cause as a safeguard against Spain attacking England.safeguard against Spain attacking England.

The wars in the Low Countries had badly hurt The wars in the Low Countries had badly hurt the English economy. the English economy.

The murder of Dutch leader William the Silent The murder of Dutch leader William the Silent and the Spanish invasion of the Netherlands and the Spanish invasion of the Netherlands convinced Elizabeth to enter the war on the convinced Elizabeth to enter the war on the Protestant side.Protestant side.

Philip II and the Spanish ArmadaPhilip II and the Spanish Armada Philip II of Spain lived at a monastery called the Philip II of Spain lived at a monastery called the

Escorial; here he had a palace but he spent much Escorial; here he had a palace but he spent much time in prayer. time in prayer.

Philip II sought pleasure in his youth but in older Philip II sought pleasure in his youth but in older age sought prayer--but he did not believe that the age sought prayer--but he did not believe that the state should dictate morals.state should dictate morals.

As was common in his time, he did not believe in As was common in his time, he did not believe in

religious toleration. religious toleration. He failed to crush the Protestant cause because he was He failed to crush the Protestant cause because he was

preoccupied with the administration of his huge empire.preoccupied with the administration of his huge empire.

El Escorial

Phillip II supported Mary Queen of Phillip II supported Mary Queen of Scotland's plot to kill Elizabeth of England, Scotland's plot to kill Elizabeth of England, so he planned an invasion of England. so he planned an invasion of England.

He wanted to keep England in the Catholic fold. He wanted to keep England in the Catholic fold.

He believed he would never conquer the Dutch He believed he would never conquer the Dutch unless he defeated England first.unless he defeated England first.

Spanish Armada

His plan was hurt by his ill health and fear of His plan was hurt by his ill health and fear of Turkish attack. Turkish attack.

The destruction of the Spanish Armada of The destruction of the Spanish Armada of 1588 did not end of the war, but it prevented 1588 did not end of the war, but it prevented Philip from unifying western Europe. Philip from unifying western Europe.

In 1609, Philip III agreed to a truce, In 1609, Philip III agreed to a truce, recognizing the independence of the United recognizing the independence of the United Provinces. Provinces.

The Thirty Year’s WarThe Thirty Year’s War1618-16481618-1648

1618-1648

Characteristics of the warCharacteristics of the war The Holy Roman Empire was the battleground.

At the beginning it was the Catholics vs. the Protestants.

At the end it was Habsburg power that was threatened.

Resolved by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.

Bohemian Phase 1618-1622Bohemian 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 II.

Ferdinand II becomes Holy Roman Emperor. Frederick II borrowed an army from Bavaria. Frederick lost his lands in the fighting.

The rebellion in Bohemia inspired others.

Bohemian Phase

Danish Phase 1625-1629Danish Phase 1625-1629 Ferdinand II tried to end all resistance.

Tried to crush Protestant northern Holy Roman Empire.

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.

German princes feared Ferdinand he fired Wallenstein in effort to calm them.

Danish Phase

Swedish Phase 1630-1635Swedish Phase 1630-1635 France & Sweden now get involved.

Both want to stop Habsburg power. Sweden led the charge. France provided support.

Gustavus Adolphus invaded the HR Empire. Ferdinand II brought back Wallenstein. Swedish advance was stopped.

German princes still feared Ferdinand II.

Wallenstein assassinated to appease them.

Swedish Phase

Gustavus Adolphus

French Phase 1635-1648French Phase 1635-1648 France & Sweden switched roles.

All countries in Europe now participated.

This phase was most destructive! 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 Germanlives in the 30Year’s war

Peace of WestphaliaPeace of Westphalia Political Provisions:

Each Ger. prince became free from any kind of control by the HR Emperor.

The United Provinces [Dutch Neths.] became officially independent so. part remained a Sp. possession.

Fr. rcvd. most of the Ger-speaking province of Alsace.

Sweden got lands in No. Ger. on the Baltic & Black Sea coasts.

Switzerland became totally independent of the HR Emperor Swiss Confederation.

Sweden won a voice in the Diet of the HR Emp. Brandenburg got important terrs. on No. Sea & in

central Germany.

Religious Provisions: Calvinists would have the same privileges

as the Lutherans had in the Peace of Augsburg.

The ruler of each state could determine its official religion, BUT [except in the hereditary lands of the Habsburgs], he must permit freedom of private worship.

Signing the Peace of Westphalia 1648

Europe 1688-1700

After the war…After the war… 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.

Legacy of the Reformation: Legacy of the Reformation: Religious ChangesReligious Changes

• Obvious split in Obvious split in Christianity between Christianity between Protestantism and Protestantism and Roman CatholicismRoman Catholicism

• Religious persecution Religious persecution and divisionand division

• Set the stage for future Set the stage for future religious conflictsreligious conflicts

• No freedom of religion No freedom of religion Scene from the Wars of

Religion, 1590

Legacy of the Reformation: Legacy of the Reformation: Political ImplicationsPolitical Implications• Evolving nature of the Evolving nature of the

relationship between church relationship between church and stateand state

• The religion of the people was The religion of the people was tied to the religion of the leadertied to the religion of the leader

• State-headed churches State-headed churches created, including the Lutheran created, including the Lutheran and Anglican Churchesand Anglican Churches

• Break from Papal political Break from Papal political influenceinfluence

• Increased autonomy and Increased autonomy and independenceindependence

An Anglican cathedral

Legacy of the Reformation: Legacy of the Reformation: Social ChangesSocial Changes • Increased Increased

education and education and literacyliteracy

• Crackdown on Crackdown on customary festivals customary festivals and ritualsand rituals

• More positive view More positive view of the family of the family

• Marriage now seen Marriage now seen more as a more as a partnershippartnership

• Improved view of Improved view of womenwomenLuther’s wedding to Katherine von Bora