French Wars of Religion
(1562-1572)
Who was apart of the dispute?
Huguenot leaders
Henry of Navarre
Iiberty.
Louis De Bourbon, Prince of Condé
Gaspard De Coligny, Admiral of France
Catholic Leaders
Charles IX
Henry II
Catherine de' Medici
Why were they fighting?
SUMMARY
Francis, Duke of Guise ordered that his soldiers open fire on a group of worshiping Huguenots on March 1st, 1562. This event sparked the First War and the beginning of the French Religious Wars. Before the tragic massacre, there had been tension between the Catholics and the Huguenots (French Calvinists). Huguenots believed that they didn't have the religious liberties that they should and the Catholics and the family of Guise (royal family) believed that France as a whole should be Catholic. The goals of the Guise family were to eliminate Calvinism and convert the Calvinist territory of Navarre back to Catholicism.
The First War lasted two years and the Edict of Amboise was signed to end it. The Edict of Amboise was signed just to make peace, however it only lasts a few years. The Huguenots realize that the peace treaty that was signed was not fair to them and that they should have more religious freedoms. The Second War started in 1567 because of the suspicion that Charles IX was plotting against the Huguenots. Despite the rumors and their conspiracies, Charles was not plotting against them and was defending against the Spanish Netherlands. The Second War occurred from 1567 to 1568. The Edict of Longjumeau was signed to end the war but it didn't last very long.
As a result of the Parliament of Rouen confirming the peace treaty a month after it was signed, riots broke out. In rage, Charles IX revises the Edict of Longjumeau and alters it's writing. Once it was revised it was said that religious liberties (not that there were many) were allowed all over in France except for in the regions owned by the Bourbon family, whom were Calvinist. In September of 1568, Charles IX actually banned Protestantism. The fighting continued on until it was resolved with a new peace treaty! And don't worry, there are plenty more to come. So after the Huguenots capture a bunch of France, Charles gets scared and begs them to sign the Peace of St. Germain, which they do sign in 1570.
Under the orders of Catherine de' Medici, Charles IX arranges his sister Margret's marriage with Henry of Navarre. Catherine wanted to try one last time to reunite Navarre with the rest of France and convert the people of Navarre back to Catholicism. On their wedding day, August 24th, 1572, the Huguenots attending were all massacred. Tons of Huguenots were murdered but Henry of Navarre barely escaped as a married man. Huguenots were furious with Catherine de' Medici and with the Catholics. Riots broke out and Catholic-Huguenot murdering sprees began. The Fourth War is ended with the Edict of Pacification at Boulogne. Of course, this didn't last long.
In 1574, Charles IX passed away and his younger brother Henry II took his place as the King of France. Fighting continued in France, lasting up until 1598. Henry II was assassinated in 1589, leaving Henry of Navarre next in line for the throne. Henry happily claimed the French throne but to cease the fighting he agreed with the Guise family that he would convert to Catholicism. Later in 1598 he passed the Edict of Nantes to grant the Calvinists their religious rights and freedom.
Outcome and how it impacted france
Timeline of the wars
1562-1563
- March 1st - Massacre of Vassy (direct cause of conflict for the 1st war)
- April 2nd- Condé and Huguenots take Orleans
- Riots of Toulouse- About 3,000 Huguenots are killed by Catholics
- December- (Louis) Condé is captured during battle but escapes
- March 19th- Edict of Amboise signed and ended the First War
- Second War begins - Huguenots believe that the Edict of Amboise was ripping them off and not giving them the religious freedoms they deserved. Huguenots also believed that the Swiss troops hired by Charles IX were for a plot against them, but really were for the Dutch Revolt.
- Surprise of Meaux- Huguenots attempted to capture King Charles IX but failed
- Huguenots captured many cities
- March 23rd- Edict of Longjumeau signed, ending the Second War
- April - Parliament of Rouen confirmed the Edict of Longjumeau it triggered riots
- Charles IX decides to revoke the treaty in areas owned by the Bourbons (Huguenot noble family)
- September 1568 - Protestantism is banned
- March 13th, 1569- Battle of Jarnac, (Louis) Condé is killed in battle and Admiral Coligny become new leader for the Huguenots
- June 1569 - Coligny defeats the Royal army at Arnav-le-Duc
- Peace of St. Germain (same religious freedoms stated in the other treaties but also four specific Calvinist towns) is signed, ending the Third War.
- August 24th, 1572 - St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre sparks the Fourth War and Coligny is killed by Henry, Duke of Guise and his men
- October 1572 - Henry I (Louis, Prince of Condé's son) and Henry of Navarre (future Henry IV) are spared during the massacre but have to convert to Catholicism
- July 1573 - Edict of Pacification at Boulogne, ending the Fourth War
- May 30, 1574 - Charles IX dies and Henry III becomes the new King of France
Primary Source
In this piece by De Thou, he discusses the deaths of Huguenot leaders, mainly Coligny, who were murdered by Catholic soldiers and the massacres that occurred. He is also writing about the events leading up to St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. De Thou was a historian and recorded the historical events that he experienced almost like a diary. This particular piece is from Histoire des choses arrivees de son temps, which was written by De Thou from memory when he experienced this tragedy first-hand in his youth.