French Wars of Religion Take place (29 Jun 1562 Jahr – 28 Apr 1598 Jahr)

Beschreibung:

Concerned by the growth of Calvinism, the French kings tried to stop it's spread by persecuting Calvinists, but had little success. Huguenots, or "French Calvinists" cam from all members of society. Most of the 40-50% of the French nobility became Huguenots, however, including the Bourdon, which stood next to the Valois and was next in royal succession and ruled the southern French kingdom of Navarre. Although only 10% of the entire population, the Huguenots caused a dangerous political threat to monarchal power because the were such a well organized and strong-willed minority. The Catholic minority greatly outnumbered the Calvinist minority however. The Valois monarchy was staunchly Catholic, and their control of the Catholic Church gave them little incentive to look at Protestantism favorably. When king Henry died, he was succeeded by his two sons both of which were secretly dominated by their mother, Catherine de Medici. As another Catholic, Catherine de' Medici looked for religious compromises to defuse political tension, but both sides contained fanatics unwilling to change. The extreme Catholic party, known as "ultra Catholics" was run by the Guise family. Owning the loyalty of Paris and other section of northern and northwestern France made them able to purchase large armies and recruits. Religion along with a strong resentment for the growing power of the monarchy were all factors that led to bloodshed. The wars erupted in 1562 when the duke of Guise massacred a large congregation of Calvinist at Vassy. In the decades of the 1560s, the Huguenots were able to hold their own. Though too small a group to conquer France, their armies were excellent at defensive campaigns despite the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. After the tragic massacre, fighting continued. The Huguenots were able to rebuild their strengths while the "Ultra Catholic" party did the same. A turning point in the conflict occurred in the War of Three Henries. The war was the eighth and final conflict in the series of civil wars in France. The war was instigated by Philip of Spain to keep his enemy, France, from interfering with the Spanish army in the Netherlands and his planned invasion of England and was fought between the moderate but devious King Henry III, the ultra-Roman Catholic Henry of Guise, and the Huguenot leader Henry of Bourbon, king of Navarre and heir presumptive to the French throne (the future Henry IV).

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