HANDOUT FOR APRIL 23: WARS OF RELIGION

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Cuius regio, eius religio ("his kingdom, his religion"): settlement allowing each of the German princes to choose Catholicism or Protestantism, and then impose that religion on all his subjects.

1531: Protestant princes in Germany form Schmalkaldic League, a defensive alliance against the Catholic emperor Charles V.

1534-1535: Anabaptist radicals seize power in Münster.

1555: Peace of Augsburg ends religious fighting in Germany, and ratifies the principle cuius regio, eius religio – but only for Catholics and Lutherans.

1562-1598: Civil war in France between Catholics and Protestant Huguenots.

1565: Philip II of Spain orders the Inquisition to repress Protestantism in Holland. This triggers a long revolt, which divides the Calvinist North (modern Netherlands) from Catholic South (modern Belgium). Spain finally forced to recognize Dutch independence in 1648.

1572 (August 24^th): Catholics massacre thousands of Protestants in Paris, on St. Bartholomew’s Day.

1588: Spanish Armada: failed attempt by Philip II to conquer Protestant England.

1589: Protestant prince Henry of Navarre becomes King Henry IV of France. Converts to Catholicism in 1593 ("Paris is well worth a Mass") but decrees tolerance for Huguenots with Edict of Nantes in 1598.

1618-1648: Thirty Years’ War.

 

Sebastian Castellio, 1515-1563.

Banished from Calvin’s Geneva in 1545 for moderation.

In 1554 writes treatise questioning whether heretics should be persecuted by force.