French Religious Wars
1562-1572
Summary
Calvinism spread quickly in France (the largest European country of the time) because Calvin himself was a Frenchmen. This gave birth to the Hugenots. The Hugenots were a Protestant group, mainly consisting of Calvinists, and lead by King Henry of Navarre. Catholic French royalty felt threatened and wanted to eliminate the group. The current ruler, Catherine de Medici set up a marriage between her daughter, Marguerite de Valois and King Of Navarre. The marriage was a front for a mass assassination. The Royalties target: the Hugenots. On the day of the marriage, St Bartholomews day in Paris, there was a massacre. Unfortunately for the Catholic royalty, Henry of Navarre survived and had a legitimate claim to the French Throne.
Reason for conflict
The root cause was the religious differences. But the main cause was that Protestent religions, Calvinism in particular, challenged royalty in the indirect way that political power didn't matter. Because Calvinism's main belief, predestination, states that anyone can go to heaven, peasants and royalty alike, as long as they are destined to.
King Henry of Navarre
Main leader of the Hugenots. Hugenots wanted religious freedom in France
Catherine de Medici
The French Regent, the true ruler. Wanted to eliminate Protestants in France.
Henry the 3rd of France
Ruler, along with his mother Catherine de Medici. Was strictly Catholic like his mother. Had no heir and eventually compete against two other candidates for the throne in the War of the Henrys.
Outcome
After the massacre the Hugenot death count was 20,000 total throughout all of France. But because of the marriage between Marguerite de Valois and Henry of Navarre, Henry of Navarre had a legitimate claim on the throne. Henry of Navarre ended up claiming the throne only after he renounced Protestantism, and accepted Catholicism. Eventually the Edict of Nantes was passed and provided partial religious freedom for French Protestants.
Main Significance
To stop the spread of Protestant religion, keeping the Catholic Guise and De Medici families in control. Maintaining a Catholic France and snuffing out the flame of Protestantism.
Document
http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1572stbarts.asp
This document is a first hand account of the St. Bartholomews day massacre. The witness was a young man and he describes how Gaspard de Coligny, a Huguenot leader, died. And what happened to Gaspards body afterward.
Location: <- Gaspard de Coligny
Phone: 1