French Wars
1562-1572
Summary
Francis II became King of France in 1559, when he was just 15 years old after his father died. The Guises and two other families battled to control the throne. The Guises won and a year later Francis II died and his even younger brother (Charles IX) took the throne. Because he was young, his mother controlled the kingdom. Catherine de Medici, seeing the threat by the Guise family, gave support to the two other leading noble families, the Bourbons and the Montmorency-Chatillons. This meant she had to support the Huguenots, giving them the right to worship outside towns and to hold church assemblies. This was too much religious freedom for the Guise family and the Duke of Guise led an army against a protestant church in Champagne. This was the start of almost 40 years of war between Roman Catholics and Huguenots (Calvinist) in the Kingdom of France. This concluded in Catherine de Médicis to show more tolerance for the Huguenots. During the the first 3 civil wars Catherine de Medici struggled to find balance between her religions.
Cause
Timeline
1562-63 - First War
1563 - Catholic duc de Guise assassinated
1564 - Calvin died
1567-1568 - 2nd War
1568 - Treaty of Longjumeau ends
1568-1570 - Third War
1572 - St Bartholomew Day's Massarce
Catherine de Medicis
Gasoard II de Coligny
The Guise Family
Outcome & Significance
Explication de l'Edict de Nantes
This edict granted the Huguenots substantial rights in a nation still considered especially Catholic. The wars weakened the authority of the monarchy, though the monarchy later reaffirmed its role under Henry IV. It also concluded the wars.