French Wars of Religion
A Series of 9 Wars from (1562-1598)
Key Figures
The First War (April 1562 to March 1563)
Cause: Catherine De Medici ordered her servants to kill the Huguenot leaders at her daughter's wedding to Henry, King of Navarre
OUTCOME
The Huguenots (Calvinist Protestants of France) were granted the right to be whatever religion they desire, while at the time the nation was still considered Catholic. It ultimately opened a path for secularism and tolerance. This was the Edict of Amboise.
OUTCOME
The Huguenots (Calvinist Protestants of France) were granted the right to be whatever religion they desire, while at the time the nation was still considered Catholic. It ultimately opened a path for secularism and tolerance. This was the Edict of Amboise.
The Second War (September 1567 to March 1568)
Cause: The Huguenots were suspicious about Charles IX of France and his intentions. The Edict of Nantes, which had given them a significant amount of religious freedom, was slow and changes were made to it, reducing the rights given. As Charles IX hired 6,000 Swiss mercenaries to guard the border, which made the Huguenots worried that they would be used in a plot against them, causing them to make a plot of their own.The plot was named ‘Surprise of Meaux’ which was essentially a plan to attempt to seize control of the young king by force, remove the Guise from his council, and secure the Huguenot position. The surprise was launched September 1567 and was almost successful, but Charles and his court escaped to Paris. On November 10th the Royal army attacked a smaller Huguenot force (Battle of Saint Denis) and the condé attacked the larger army. In the end both sides withdrew to their camps.
Cause:
Cause:
It was ended by the Edict of Longjumeau on March 23, 1568 which renewed the terms of the Edict of Amboise.
The Third War (August 1568 to 1570)
Cause:
The strongly Catholic and anti-peace faction, led by the Guise family, made the plan to capture the key Huguenot leaders and then suppress the Huguenots. The Huguenots fled to La Rochelle, which starts the Third War. As Condé moved, he sent out messages to fellow Protestant leaders. They then soon began to arrive at La Rochelle. The Huguenot army was now strong enough to go on the offensive, capturing a number of key cities in Poitou. Which made La Rochelle more secure. Both the Condé army and the Royal army were large, but both withdrew in winter. The Huguenots then got reinforcements from Germany, lead by Wolfgang duke of Zweibrucken.
Outcome:
It was ended by the Peace of St. Germain. Which was similar to the treaties that ended the first and second war. The Huguenots were given four ‘security towns’
The strongly Catholic and anti-peace faction, led by the Guise family, made the plan to capture the key Huguenot leaders and then suppress the Huguenots. The Huguenots fled to La Rochelle, which starts the Third War. As Condé moved, he sent out messages to fellow Protestant leaders. They then soon began to arrive at La Rochelle. The Huguenot army was now strong enough to go on the offensive, capturing a number of key cities in Poitou. Which made La Rochelle more secure. Both the Condé army and the Royal army were large, but both withdrew in winter. The Huguenots then got reinforcements from Germany, lead by Wolfgang duke of Zweibrucken.
Outcome:
It was ended by the Peace of St. Germain. Which was similar to the treaties that ended the first and second war. The Huguenots were given four ‘security towns’
The Fourth War (December 1572 to June 1573)
Cause:
This war is mainly famous for the siege of La Rochelle by the Duke of Anjou, the future Henry III.La Rochelle was also a base for Hugenot privateers who were a problem to shipping in the Bay of Biscay
Outcome:
Ended when the Duke of Anjou went to Poland where he had been elected king – such was the fragility of loyalties in France. Henry signed the Treaty of La Rochelle in 1573 which re-introduced the terms of Saint Germain.
This war is mainly famous for the siege of La Rochelle by the Duke of Anjou, the future Henry III.La Rochelle was also a base for Hugenot privateers who were a problem to shipping in the Bay of Biscay
Outcome:
Ended when the Duke of Anjou went to Poland where he had been elected king – such was the fragility of loyalties in France. Henry signed the Treaty of La Rochelle in 1573 which re-introduced the terms of Saint Germain.
The Fifth War (December 1575 to May 1576
Cause:
This was essentially a confrontation between the new Henry III (Anjou had returned as king of Poland on the death of Charles in May 1574) and the Huguenots. In December 1574 the Huguenots had effectively created an independent state in the south which is usually referred to Languedoc by historians.
Outcome:
Henry granted the Huguenots far more concessions than they had ever had before. This was the Treaty of Monsieur of 1576.The Hugenots were granted freedom of worship everywhere except in court and within a specified distance from Paris.
This was essentially a confrontation between the new Henry III (Anjou had returned as king of Poland on the death of Charles in May 1574) and the Huguenots. In December 1574 the Huguenots had effectively created an independent state in the south which is usually referred to Languedoc by historians.
Outcome:
Henry granted the Huguenots far more concessions than they had ever had before. This was the Treaty of Monsieur of 1576.The Hugenots were granted freedom of worship everywhere except in court and within a specified distance from Paris.
The Sixth War (March to December 1577)
Cause:
The Guise family had formed the Catholic League (also known as the Holy League). At a meeting of the Estates-General held at Blois in December 1576, a large majority of those present voted for the cancellation of Monsieur. The meeting was dominated by the presence of the Guise family.This put Henry III in a very difficult position. His catholic support had rejected a treaty which he had agreed to and he was left exposed. Having apparently lost the support of the Catholics of France, he now looked more than ever to be in the hands of the Huguenots.To end his isolation, Henry III put himself at the head of the Catholic League which had been established to rid France of Huguenots and to give the Catholics of France some form of military back-up at times of confrontation. By putting himself at the head of the League, Henry was giving out a very clear message. His campaign against the Huguenots was successful and the Huguenot gains of Monsieur were withdrawn. The Treaty of Bergerac imposed Huguenot worship to the suburbs of one town in each judicial district.
Outcome:
After six wars neither side had got what it wanted. The Catholics still had to face a Huguenot presence in France while the Huguenots were now faced with great restrictions on their right to worship.
The Guise family had formed the Catholic League (also known as the Holy League). At a meeting of the Estates-General held at Blois in December 1576, a large majority of those present voted for the cancellation of Monsieur. The meeting was dominated by the presence of the Guise family.This put Henry III in a very difficult position. His catholic support had rejected a treaty which he had agreed to and he was left exposed. Having apparently lost the support of the Catholics of France, he now looked more than ever to be in the hands of the Huguenots.To end his isolation, Henry III put himself at the head of the Catholic League which had been established to rid France of Huguenots and to give the Catholics of France some form of military back-up at times of confrontation. By putting himself at the head of the League, Henry was giving out a very clear message. His campaign against the Huguenots was successful and the Huguenot gains of Monsieur were withdrawn. The Treaty of Bergerac imposed Huguenot worship to the suburbs of one town in each judicial district.
Outcome:
After six wars neither side had got what it wanted. The Catholics still had to face a Huguenot presence in France while the Huguenots were now faced with great restrictions on their right to worship.
The Seventh War (November 1579 to November 1580
The treaty of Bergerac was confirmed
The Eighth War (March 1585 to August 1589)
This war is frequently referred to as “The War of the Three Henrie's” In June 1584, the heir to the throne, the Duke of Alencon died leaving no heir to the throne from the line if Henry II. By law, the next legal heir was Henry of Navarre. Henry III recognized this as being so.Navarre was a Protestant who had briefly converted to Catholicism during the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in an effort to save his life. He had quickly converted back to Protestantism when it was safe to do so. The Huguenots supported the belief in the divine right of kings while the Catholics supported the belief in the sovereignty of the people. The urban masses were starting to become unpredictable. The working class was starting to suffer from economic depression and heavy taxation while the middle class was becoming more angry over the issue of the rich title holders selling offices to the highest bidder which meant that the able and educated men (but those who had come form the poorer families) could not afford to compete.
Effect:
By the end of 1588, France was controlled by either the League or the Huguenots. The king’s power appeared to be minimal. Henry III sided with Henry of Navarre for an attack on Paris but the king was murdered by a young monk who had been promised canonization as a reward for doing so.
Effect:
By the end of 1588, France was controlled by either the League or the Huguenots. The king’s power appeared to be minimal. Henry III sided with Henry of Navarre for an attack on Paris but the king was murdered by a young monk who had been promised canonization as a reward for doing so.
The Ninth War (August 1589 to May 1598)
Navarre is king, his sole purpose initially was to defeat the league. The League was tainted with Spain as it had accepted Spanish money and troops whereas Henry IV was not tainted in this manner and thus appealed to French patriotism. The fact that he received English help from 1590 to 1594 did not seem to worry the French as much as the Spanish help that the League had received.In June 1593, Henry converted to Catholicism again and in March 1594 he entered Paris.
Vervins lead to Spain giving up all her conquests except Cambrai and the terms of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis were restored.
Vervins lead to Spain giving up all her conquests except Cambrai and the terms of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis were restored.
Summary
For a while, the Huguenots could choose their religion but then Catherine de Medici wanted to kill her daughters husband but the edict of Nantes "gave them religious freedom" but things were going slow and the Huguenots were not happy. Many wars later Navarre was king and granted religious freedom to all