The first major jubilee of 1617 in Germany
From an early date, anniversaries had been held to celebrate Luther’s Reformation throughout the Holy Roman German Empire. But it was only in 1617 that the origin of the Reformation...
French Jubilees of the Reformation
In France commemorations of the Reformation only really began in the XIXth century. They celebrated mostly French Protestant historical events so as not to attract too much attention from the...
The French Protestant Church Service today
The Church service is based on the Bible and is a time and place consecrated to God. It is a meeting which God initiates and is the visible sign of...
Protestant Alsace under the Revolution
In Alsace, as in other French regions, the Protestants were eagerly in favour of ending the Ancien Régime because Protestantism was officially acknowledged. The Revolution was marked by less violence...
Protestantism in Alsace from 1799 to 1871
The Alsatian Protestant community was enthusiastic when Bonaparte seized power, because the Organic Articles gave Lutheran and Reformed Protestantism the Concordat regime, still valid in Alsace and Lorraine today.
Violence
The wars of Religion were specific in their violence under its most extreme forms. Intolerance and fanaticism flew the colours of religion. A “show of cruelty” was supposed to teach...
The foreign war
Foreign intervention in the French civil war is one of the permanent features of the wars of Religion. It is indeed difficult to make a clear cut between civil war...
Royal power
During the wars of religion the ideas concerning the royal power and its methods evolved according to the beliefs of both parties – but also to their interests. It ended...
The Huguenot State
The Union of the Protestants in the South set up a parallel government, copying the framework planned in Nîmes in 1562. In December 1573, the assembly met in Millau and...
The League
The first League, named Péronne, was created after 8 stronghold cities were given to the Protestants with the Peace of Beaulieu in 1576. Jacques d’Humières, Governor of Péronne, refused to...
The Protestant population
Upon Henri II’s death in 1559, membership increased, the number of « erected » churches was close to 1,400. The number of Protestants was estimated at 2 million representing 10 % of the...
The Guises
Descended from the House of Lorraine, the Guises were French princes since 1516. Their properties and many fiefdoms were located in the Mayenne, Normandy, Picardie, Flanders and Lorraine regions.
The Montmorency
A very old household in the Ile de France region, their power was due to several military leaders that it provided to the kingdom.
The Edict of Nantes
In 1598, the Edict of Nantes was signed and established both Catholic and Protestant religions as coexisting, thus ending 36 years of civil war.
Eighth war of Religion (1585-1598)
26 November 1580: Treaty of Fleix 10 June 1584: Death of the Duke of Anjou. Henri de Navarre became heir to the throne September 1584: Formation of the second league...
Seventh war of Religion (1579-1580)
17 September 1577: Edict of Poitiers Autumn 1578: Catherine de Medici’s trip to the South-West 28 February 1579: Treaty of Nérac 29 November 1579: Henri de Condé took La Fère...
Sixth war of Religion (March 1577-September 1577)
6 May 1576: Edict of Beaulieu June 1576: Setting up of the First League de Péronne November 1576: General Estates of Blois opened Abolition of the Edict of Beaulieu March...
Fifth war of Religion (1574-1576)
11 July 1573: Edict of Boulogne December 1573: the Millau Assembly set up “Unity of Protestants in the Midi”, Henri de Condé was appointed protector February 1574: Protestant uprisings in...