4.1 French Wars of Religion and the Edict of Nantes

The French Wars of Religion pitted Catholics against Protestants in a brutal conflict lasting from 1562 to 1598. These wars weren't just about faith—they involved power struggles between nobles and the monarchy, with foreign powers getting involved too.

Henry IV, a Protestant who converted to Catholicism, ended the wars by becoming king. He issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598, granting religious freedom to Protestants. This move, along with his practical approach to governing, brought some peace to France.

The French Wars of Religion

Religious Conflict and Violence

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• The French Wars of Religion were a series of civil wars fought between French Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) from 1562 to 1598
• Huguenots, French Calvinist Protestants, faced persecution and violence from the Catholic majority and the French government
• Catherine de' Medici, Queen Mother and regent for her young sons, initially tried to promote religious tolerance but later sided with the Catholic faction
• The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572) was a targeted killing of Huguenot leaders in Paris that escalated into widespread violence, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Huguenots across France

Political Factions and Alliances

• The Catholic League, formed in 1576, was a powerful ultra-Catholic faction that aimed to eradicate Protestantism in France and prevent a Protestant from ascending to the French throne
• The Catholic League, led by the Duke of Guise, became a major political force and challenged the authority of the French monarchy
• The Wars of Religion were not solely about religious differences but also involved political power struggles between noble factions and the monarchy
• Foreign powers, such as Spain and England, intervened in the French Wars of Religion to support their respective Catholic or Protestant allies

Henry IV and the Edict of Nantes

Henry IV's Ascension to the Throne

• Henry of Navarre, a Protestant, became the legitimate heir to the French throne after the deaths of Henry III's younger brothers
• As a Protestant, Henry IV faced opposition from the Catholic League and was initially unable to take control of Paris
• To secure his claim to the throne, Henry IV converted to Catholicism in 1593, famously stating, "Paris is well worth a Mass"
• Henry IV's conversion and military victories allowed him to be crowned King of France in 1594, ending the Wars of Religion

The Edict of Nantes and Religious Toleration

• In 1598, Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted religious toleration to the Huguenots and ended the French Wars of Religion
• The Edict of Nantes allowed Huguenots to practice their religion freely in specific locations, hold public office, and maintain fortified cities for their protection
• The Edict also required the Huguenots to respect Catholic holidays and pay tithes to the Catholic Church
• While the Edict of Nantes did not create complete religious equality, it was a significant step towards religious toleration in France

Henry IV's Politique Approach

• Henry IV and his supporters, known as the Politique faction, prioritized national unity and political stability over religious uniformity
• The Politiques believed that the king's authority should be independent of religious affiliation and that the state's interests should take precedence over religious disputes
• Henry IV worked to rebuild France after the devastating Wars of Religion, promoting economic growth, infrastructure improvements, and agricultural development (Sully's reforms)
• Henry IV's pragmatic approach and the Edict of Nantes brought a period of relative peace and stability to France, although religious tensions would continue to simmer in the following decades