Europe in Crisis

Europe in Crisis Questions Test 6 • List the sequence of events that led to the Edict of Nantes. • How important was Catholicism to Philip II and the Spanish people? • Why was Philip II confident that the Spanish could successfully invade England? • Identify the Huguenots, Henry of Navarre, William the Silent and Elizabeth Tudor. The French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion • By 1560, Calvinism and Catholicism had both become very militant. • Both sides uses armed force against each other. • In France, religious civil war occurred between 1562- 1598). • French Protestants in France were called Huguenots. • Huguenots were Calvinists. The French Wars of Religion • Only 7% of Frenchmen were Calvinists, but 70% of French nobility were Calvinists. • The family of royalty called Bourbon from the southern French kingdom of Navarre were Calvinists. • But the French king was very Catholic and were threaten by the Calvinists. • For 30 years civil war raged. The French Wars of Religion • Finally in 1589, a leader from the Bourbon family became king of France. • Henry of Navarre was a Calvinist but converted to the Catholic faith to unite France. • Henry issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 which made the Catholic faith the official faith of France but allowed Huguenots the right to worship. Philip II and Militant Catholicism Philip II and Militant Catholicism • The greatest supporter of militant Catholicism was King Philip II of Spain. • He ruled from 1556 to 1598, and created the greatest Catholic political and cultural empire. • He ruled over Spain, the Netherlands, parts of Italy and 70% of the Americas. • Philip II was a strictly conformist Catholic. Philip II and Militant Catholicism • By pushing the Moors from Spain during the Middle Ages, the Spanish believed they were the new “chosen” people. • After their homeland victory, the Spanish were willing and able to fight all non-Catholic religions including Protestants. • They considered all non-Catholics as heretics. • Philip led the battle against the Turks in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, and won. • He tried to crush Calvinism in the Netherlands and lost ½ of his territory there against William the Silent (the Prince of Orange founder of the modern United Provinces of the Netherlands.) Philip II and Militant Catholicism • The 1600’s became known as the “Golden Age” of the Netherlands. • But Spain remained the greatest power on the age through its vast worldwide colonies especially America. • But Philip had emptied Spain’s treasure maintaining the empire, and Spain’s military slowly became out-of-date. • Real power began to shift to England and France. The England of Elizabeth The England of Elizabeth • Elizabeth Tudor became queen of England in 1558. • England had fewer than four(4) million people at the time. • She made England the world’s leader of Protestant nations. • Her policies were moderate both internally and externally. • Religious moderation and a fear of war kept England always growing and expanding. The England of Elizabeth • She would support the weaker France or Spain thereby keeping both from becoming too powerful. • Internally, most citizens were satisfied with a moderate form of Protestantism called the Church of England. • She allowed Sir Francis Drake to harass Spanish ships at sea, but only in the New World. The England of Elizabeth • Meanwhile, Philip II of Spain got the idea of invading England. • His advisors told Philip the English really wanted to be Catholic and would fight against their own queen if he invaded. • Philip created an armada of ships in 1588, loaded with Spanish troops to invade England. • But England had smaller and faster ships, and slowly destroyed the Spanish Armada. • And a storm sank the rest of Ireland/Scotland. Terms • Huguenots • Henry of Navarre • Edict of Nantes • King Philip II of Spain • William the Silent • Elizabeth Tudor • The Netherlands