Religious Wars
I. Confessional States
A.
Nation, church and conscience are inextricably linked
1. established, national churches
2.
control of church and of conscience is key to power of
government
3. Protestants
and Catholics are agreed: no toleration
B.
El Greco�s Christ Cleansing the Temple (1600)
1.
artistic expression of religious wars
II. Religious Wars in France
A.
half the aristocrats and a third of population in
southern France convert to Calvinism
1.
Resistance to growing power of the monarchy, especially in the South
B.
Three factions
1. Catholic supporters of the monarchy (Charles IX, Henry III)
2. Protestants, led by Henry of Navarre (relative of royal family)
3. Ultra-Catholics, led by Henry, Duke of Guise
a. believed that the
kings compromised too much with Protestants
C.
St. Bartholomew's Massacre, August, 1572
1. Royal wedding of Henry of Navarre with king's sister Margaret
2. Plots and rumors
3. King orders assassination of all Protestant nobles in Paris
a. killing spreads to the
countryside
b. film segment, Queen Margot (1994)
D.
Ending the Wars
1. Protestants in open
revolt against monarchy
2. Irony: Protestant prince becomes king. Converts to Catholicism
3. Edict of Nantes (1598)--a measure of toleration
III. Spain: "Greatest Power on
Earth"
A. Philip II (1556-98)
1.
mission to defend the faith
B. Conflict over political authority
1.
Moriscos
2.
Netherlands (1556-1648)
a.
200 cities with half of European trade
b.
seven times the income in taxes than the wealth from
America
c.
Protestant, commercial, partly democratic and relatively tolerant
IV. England: Not the Greatest Power on
Earth
A. Finding a middle path
1. Elizabeth (1558-1603)
2. establishes moderate Protestantism
3. war with Spain
a. supports Dutch rebels
b. the Armada sails (1588)
c. "Protestant Wind"
V. Germany: Not Even a State
A.
Thirty-Years' War
1.
Lutheran north and Catholic south
2.
Emperor Ferdinand moves against Bohemia
3.
King Gustavus Adolphus of
Sweden intervenes
4.
the French help the Protestants ("raison d'etat")
B.
Consequences of War
1.
Princes regain rights, even to be Calvinist
2.
Devastation of Germany
3.
Germany more divided than ever