French Wars
1562-1598
Summary
Cause
Course of Conflict
- Luther nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church, starting the Protestant Reformation.
- A conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics arise in which the Queen, sides with the less popular Protestants, over the Catholics.
- England and Spain join the movement which England funding the Protestants and Spain, the Catholics.
- St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre occurs
- Queen Catherine de' Medici changes from supporting the Protestants to the Catholics
- King Henry IV comes to power after pronouncing his Catholic faith
- King Henry IV issues the Edict of Nantes, giving rights to Huguenots
- Religious tension remains between the Protestants and the Catholics
- King Louis XIV later revokes the edict by issuing the Edict of Fontainebleau
Key Figures
Huguenots
Queen Catherine de Medici
Queen Catherine de Medici was a powerful Italian nobleswoman who was married to King Henry II. Her three sons ruled during the civil and religious war in France. At first, Catherine made concessions to the Huguenots. Later, she was blamed for the persecutions made under her sons' rule.
Roman Catholics
This large religious group fought and persecuted French Protestants which created great conflict during the wars.
Outcome
Main Significance
Primary Source Document
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Wars_of_Religion
https://www.britannica.com/event/Wars-of-Religion
https://sites.google.com/a/umail.iu.edu/the-french-wars-of-religion-1562-1629/primary-texts
https://www.history.com/topics/reformation/martin-luther-and-the-95-theses
https://www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-Mo/Medici-Catherine-de.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de%27_Medici
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1572stbarts.asp
Image of Catherine Medici - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_de%27_Medici
Image of Huguenots - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emigration-of-the-Huguenots-1566-by-Jan-Antoon-Neuhuys.jpg
Image of St Bartholomew's Day #1 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frans_Hogenberg,_The_St._Bartholomew%27s_Day_massacre,_circa_1572_n2.jpg
Image of St Bartholomew's Day #2 - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francois_Dubois_001.jpgImage of Roman Catholic Pope - https://www.northwindprints.com/religion/roman-catholic-pope-1500s-1600s-5885530.html