Transcript AP European History

AP European History
Religious and Civil War in France
1562 - 1589
I. Background
• - The wars of religion in France were only in part due to actual religious
conflicts. In actuality, according to many sources, these wars are representative
of the traditional conflict between the established powers in France (the king,
the nobility, the Parlements …).
• Some sources site the convening of the Estates General (1560 – 1561) as
important in pushing the French towards war.
• “What do you think the king wanted?” “How do nobles or representatives of
the ‘estates’ sometimes respond in these situations?”
• The Kings of France were either weak or short lived.
• Each son of the Henri II, the last strong Valois king, was dominated by the
mother Catherine di Medici.
II. Religion
• - Due to the establishment of the Gallican church
(Concordat of Bologna) most Frenchmen were Catholic.
• - However, many of the French nobility became
Calvinists. “Why?” Many sources suggest that many
Huguenot commoners were true in their reformed
convictions.
• In the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572, paranoid Parisian Catholic
mobs killed thousands of Huguenots. Sources suggest 20,000 Protestants
died in the fighting.
• The rioting was sparked by the attempted assassination of Admiral de
Coligny – leader of the Protestant faction. Some sources suggest that the
Spanish were responsible for the attack. “Who was pulling on the Milch
Cow’s tail?”
In the following civil war (s) - atrocities war committed by
both factions.
Henry IV and the Edict on Nantes 1589
“Paris is well worth a mass.”
• In 1589, Henry of Navarre or
Henri de Bourbon, a Protestant (r.
1589 – 1610), became King Henry
IV of France. Henry converted to
Catholicism and issued the Edict
of Nantes (1598) in an attempt to
promote civil and religious unity.
“How are these actions reflective
of Henri’s Politique stance?”
• The Edict of Nantes (1598)
allowed the Huguenots to
worship freely in France. The
Edict also sanctioned the
maintenance of La Rochelle a
Protestant military stronghold.
• Both the issuance and revocation
of the Edict on Nantes in 1685 by
Louis XIV, grandson of Henry IV,
are significant turning points in
French history.
Think about it?
Discussion Questions:
• What was Busbecq’s take on the
civil wars in France between
1562 and 1589?