The History of the Huguenots
Western Civilization II Marshall High School Mr. Cline Unit ThreeDA
* The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• War Breaks Out
• 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.
• Henry Bourbon Helps Protestantism
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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 1589.
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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 1594.
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• Catholic House of Bourbon
• Desiring unquestioned power, Louis chose Cardinal Richelieu, his chief minister, to deal with the bothersome Huguenots.
• 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.
• Who Was Richelieu?
• Armand Jean du Plessis, who would become Cardinal Richelieu, was born in 1585.
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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 1607. 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.
• By the time he was 28, he already had a good reputation within his diocese, or church district. end. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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 1617. Then, when Louis was declared old enough to rule, his mother excluded him from political affairs to keep her own influential status. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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 1624.
• 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.
• Richelieu loathed the Huguenots. However, he initially tolerated their existence in France as long as they were loyal to the French king. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• Richelieu Versus 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.
• The End of the Huguenots
• Upon the death of Louis XIII by natural causes, his son took the throne as Louis XIV. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• 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 1685.
• 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. * The History of Early Modern Europe
• The End of the Huguenots
• With this exodus, the power of the Reformation within France came to an end.