The History of the Huguenots. Western Civilization II Marshall High School Mr. Cline Unit ThreeDA

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1 The History of the Huguenots Western Civilization II Marshall High School Mr. Cline Unit ThreeDA

2 Reformation Comes to France When the Reformation came to France, its message spread quickly. By 1534, there were estimated to be over 30,000 followers of Luther within the city of Paris. Although facing great persecution from the French throne, Protestantism continued to grow. However, the new converts lacked organization. Without a unified leader, their cries for reform went unheeded. This all changed when Calvinism came to France. Calvinism, named after the 16th century reformer John Calvin, held that only God has complete authority over humanity, salvation, and the Church. In other words, the pope is not the end all authority. He, like the rest of humanity, is subject to God. In John Calvin, the French Protestants had found a leader.

3 War Breaks Out By 1559, Protestant churches were popping up all over Catholic France. It was about this time that French Protestants came to be known as Huguenots. Many of these Huguenots were from the aristocratic class. This meant they had political power to back up their beliefs. As they began to gain popularity and power, King Henry II, France's Catholic ruler, called for their arrest and execution. This persecution lasted until Henry's death and the ascension of his son, King Charles IX. Coming to the throne as a young man, Charles realized religious moderation was his best chance at maintaining power. However, many other nobles disagreed and continued their siege against the Huguenots.

4 War Breaks Out One such nobleman was Henry Duke of Guise, whose family sparked the 1562 Massacre at Vassy in which dozens of unarmed Protestants were slaughtered. This violence signaled the beginning of the French Wars of Religion, a series of conflicts in which the Huguenots fought for religious freedom. Violence escalated when King Charles' sister was promised in marriage to her Huguenot cousin, Henry of Bourbon, King of Navarre. Upon hearing this, Catholic extremists were outraged. Knowing many leading Huguenots would come to Paris for the festivities; the extremists hatched a violent plan.

5 War Breaks Out Henry Bourbon Helps Protestantism On August 23, 1572, St. Bartholomew's Day, the bells of Paris were rung, signaling the extremists to take up arms against the unsuspecting Huguenots. This began a massacre of French Protestants, which lasted for three days. By the time the Catholics were finished, thousands of Huguenots lay dead in what has come to be known as the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Rather than ending the Wars of Religion, the Massacre of St. Bartholomew gave the Huguenots a stronger will to fight. Henry of Bourbon, who survived the massacre, led the Protestants against their Catholic enemies.

6 Henry Bourbon Helps Protestantism Under the leadership of Bourbon, the Protestants gained ground and continued their fight for freedom into the reign of Henry III. Henry III came to the throne after the death of his brother Charles IX. Like his brother, Henry III tried to take the course of religious moderation, but war still raged within France. Unfortunately, for those who agreed with Henry III's moderate stance, he was assassinated by a Catholic extremist in the year Although Henry's assassination seemed like a win for the Catholic extremists, it would soon backfire. Since Henry died without an heir, the next in line for the throne was none other than Henry of Bourbon. Making matters worse for the Catholics, Henry Bourbon was not just a military leader, he was a skilled politician.

7 Henry Bourbon Helps Protestantism Since he was a Protestant, Bourbon realized the Catholics in France would never rest while he sat on the throne. In a rather crafty move, Bourbon renounced his Protestant faith. Whether sincere or not, this gained him enough Catholic support to take the crown as King Henry IV in the year With this move, the House of Bourbon came to the French throne. Although Henry of Bourbon reigned as the Catholic Henry IV, he did not forget his Protestant friends. In fact, he continued to be one of its greatest allies. In 1598, he issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted civil rights to the Huguenots. Although Catholicism remained in control, the Huguenots were given cities in which they could freely worship.

8 Henry Bourbon Helps Protestantism With this freedom, the Huguenots also gained political power, almost becoming a free republic within the borders of France. The Edict of Nantes also ended the French Wars of Religion and ushered in a decade of peace. Sadly, this peace ended in 1610 when Henry IV was assassinated by yet another religious extremist. Although his reign was cut short, Henry IV, the first French king from the House of Bourbon, is still considered one of France's greatest monarchs. Catholic House of Bourbon Upon the death of this renowned king, his son took the throne as Louis XIII of the House of Bourbon. Unlike his father, Louis XIII was raised as a devout Catholic who had no use for Protestants.

9 Catholic House of Bourbon Desiring unquestioned power, Louis chose Cardinal Richelieu, his chief minister, to deal with the bothersome Huguenots. Who Was Richelieu? Richelieu, who took his job quite seriously, renewed the persecution of the Huguenots, and stripped them of much of their political power. However, he did not rescind the Edict of Nantes. Armand Jean du Plessis, who would become Cardinal Richelieu, was born in He was a dominant figure in French history. He is considered to be one of the greatest politicians in 17th century France. Richelieu was the third son of the Lord of Richelieu. He received his education in Paris, France at the College de Navarre.

10 By the time he was 28, he already had a good reputation within his diocese, or church district. end. Who Was Richelieu? After attending college he attended a military school. He then studied theology at the College de Calvi. Richelieu's family had planned for him to take over the family bishopric at Lucon in Poitou. A bishopric is a governing council over a congregation. He was ordained as a priest and a bishop in At the time, he was only 21 years old. Richelieu's Career Richelieu was a very ambitious man. In the wake of the changes sweeping Europe, he saw the opportunity to become a powerful man.

11 Richelieu's Career He was skilled at speaking in public. He also strongly supported Roman Catholicism. Richelieu was also public about his support for Spain. Currently, Marie de Medici was acting as ruler in France for her young son Louis XIII. De Medici was impressed with Richelieu's reputation and made him the official Chaplain to Anne of Austria. Anne was betrothed to de Medici's son, King Louis. Richelieu's reputation soon earned him an appointment of Secretary of State for War and Foreign Affairs. Richelieu had been strongly supported by a popular Italian politician named Concino Concini. Concini was killed in Then, when Louis was declared old enough to rule, his mother excluded him from political affairs to keep her own influential status.

12 Richelieu's Career Louis, now old enough to act as king without his mother as regent, ordered his mother exiled. Richelieu joined her. Without his two biggest supporters, Richelieu faced a possible end to his career. De Medici rebelled against her son after being exiled. She trusted few people to aid her in communicating with Louis during these times. Richelieu became her most trusted mediator. He helped communication between Louis and his mother become strong enough for them to reconcile. In 1621, she was allowed to return to her royal court with Richelieu's help.

13 Richelieu loathed the Huguenots. However, he initially tolerated their existence in France as long as they were loyal to the French king. Richelieu's Career Europe was in the midst of the Thirty Years' War, a battle that began early as a fight between Catholics and Protestants but grew into power plays for European countries and rulers. Louis knew France was becoming more involved in the war and needed someone to advise him on foreign policy. With the encouragement of his mother, he appointed Richelieu a spot on the Royal Council in the spring of Later that year he made him Chief Minister. Richelieu Versus the Huguenots Richelieu's most notable achievement was his victory over the Huguenots. It is here that he won a major victory for centralized political power in France.

14 Richelieu Versus the Huguenots Richelieu's most notable achievement was his victory over the Huguenots. It is here that he won a major victory for centralized political power in France. Richelieu loathed the Huguenots. However, he initially tolerated their existence in France as long as they were loyal to the French king. Richelieu supported absolutism, that all power should be vested in one person, the French king. As the Huguenots grew stronger, they rebelled against the king. Richelieu saw the need to stamp out their presence in France. By the time Richelieu reached his Chief Minister status, the Huguenots had eight groups in the southern part of the country and an army of troops. The sect was so large they had established an internal system of administration.

15 Richelieu Versus the Huguenots This further angered Richelieu, who was loyal to the French royalty. In the interest of gaining more esteem in Europe, he believed France needed to have very little conflict within its borders. Stability was key to France's power. He saw the Huguenots as a threat to this stability. Richelieu knew the Huguenots could attack if France's monarchy was distracted by foreign affairs, affording them a strong advantage. After Richelieu's appointment France became more involved in the Thirty Years' War. The Huguenots took this opportunity to try to expand their power. In 1625, the Huguenots took control of the islands of Re and Oleron. These islands were the defense for a sea port at La Rochelle.

16 Richelieu Versus the Huguenots This area is where Huguenots held their capital. Richelieu responded by sending royal troops to control the Huguenots. In February 1626 he signed a peace treaty with the Huguenots called the Treaty of La Rochelle. England had been involved in the negotiations, which also made Richelieu unhappy. England was a largely Protestant nation at the time, and Richelieu may have believed they were strongly in favor of the Protestant Huguenots. In 1627 the Huguenots revolted again with the help of England. Richelieu sent troops to fight the Huguenots again.

17 Upon the death of Louis XIII by natural causes, his son took the throne as Louis XIV. Richelieu Versus the Huguenots The End of the Huguenots After driving English troops out of the Huguenot area, he ordered the harbor at La Rochelle be blocked off to prevent Huguenots from obtaining supplies by land. Richelieu waited with his troops for the Huguenots to be starved out of their capital. In 1628 Louis led an attack that defeated what was left of the Huguenots in La Rochelle. In 1629 the Huguenot military organization was broken up while their strongholds were destroyed under the Edict of Grace. The treaty ordered that the Huguenot military organization be disbanded and Roman Catholicism should be practiced where Calvinism had been dominant.

18 The End of the Huguenots With his rise to the throne, the Huguenots faced one of their greatest enemies from the house that had once been an ally. Intent on having only one faith within his country, this new Bourbon king issued the Edict of Fontainebleau in the year This abolished the Edict of Nantes and stripped the Huguenots of their freedom and safety. It made it illegal for the Huguenots to meet together and ordered the immediate destruction of all Protestant churches and schools. Perhaps even more devastating, it prohibited Protestants from leaving France. Any Protestant caught trying to flee would be executed. Under such pressure, many Huguenots renounced their Protestant faith and returned to the Catholic Church. Hundreds of thousands risked death by fleeing the country.

19 The End of the Huguenots With this exodus, the power of the Reformation within France came to an end.

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