RELIGIOUS WARS AND THE COUNTER-REFORMATION
RELIGIOUS WARS 
THE COUNTER-REFORMATION
In 1521
the Church
excommunicated Luther
attempted to prosecute him for heresy
was unsuccessful because Luther received the protection of
German nobles
saw an opportunity to increase
their possessions (taking those of the Church)
their autonomy from the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
1519
Carlos I
the Catholic Monarchs' grandson and King of Spain
was appointed Emperor (as Carlos V)
was a devout Catholic
tried to mediate in this conflict
to prevent the division of the Church
Various meetings took place
such as the Diet of Worms
no agreement was reached
Catholic considered the Lutherans Protestants
but they referred to themselves as the Reformed.
The Emperor supported the Pope and the Church
Protestant German princes supported Luther
Schmalkaldic League alliance
CIVIL WAR
Emperor and the Catholic German princes
Successful
Schmalkaldic League
defeated
at the Battle of Mühlberg in 1547
France went against the Emperor
greater balance of military power
1555
Peace of Augsburg was signed
the Emperor granted the Protestant princes religious freedom
It did not result in religious peace in Europe
It provoked a series of religious wars
France
wars between Catholics and Protestants
second half of the 16th century
Bloody episodes
the massacre of Protestants on St. Bartholomew's Day
in 1572
They ended in 1598
King Henry IV signed the Edict of Nantes
It granted the Protestants a certain amount of religious freedom
Low Countries
Dutch War of Independence or Eighty Years' War (1568-1648)
rebellion against Spanish rule
civil war between the Calvinists and Catholics
victory of the Calvinists in the northern provinces
British Isles
Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639-1651)
a series of conflicts
among
Catholics
Anglicans
Puritans
in
England
Scotland
Ireland
ended with the Anglicans gaining power
Consequences of religious division in Europe
Protestants and Catholics persecuted each other in their areas
For example
in Switzerland
the Calvinists executed the Spanish scientist Miguel Servet
for his religious beliefs
The Pope and the Emperor became less influential
The Protestant kings and nobles gained more power
by taking over their national churches and their possessions
religious, intellectual and political movement
led by the Catholic Church against the Protestant Reformation
The Council of Trent
was held in three periods of sessions
established the Catholic Church’s course of action in three areas
The clarification of their teachings
Internal reform
The repression of Protestantism
The Catholics maintained their power
over southern and central Europe
The dogmas and principles rejected by protestants maintained
These included
carrying out good deeds to achieve salvation
observing the seven sacraments
recognising the Pope as the highest authority
venerating the Virgin Mary and the saints
the need for priests to interpret the Bible to avoid deviations
Measures were taken to resolve internal corruption
Seminaries and universities were founded
to improve the training priests
Bishops were more strictly controlled
1545-1548
1551-1552
1562-1563
The person who insisted most on holding it
was the Emperor Carlos V
who hoped it would restore peace among his subjects
The Protestants attended briefly in 1551
Some kingdoms
such as France
expressed their mistrust
believed that the council served the interests of the Habsburgs
French monarchs wished to maintain control over their own religious matters.
In other kingdoms
such as Spain
Council of Trent's instructions or mandates were widely applied
This council did not manage to prevent division in the Church
it played an important role in
establishing the Catholic dogmas in the following centuries
the sale of indulgences was prohibited
the religious orders were reformed
The Society of Jesus
gained importance
founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534, who vowed obedience to the Pope
Jesuits became the main group responsible for
spreading the teachings of the Counter-Reformation
followers were considered heretics
The Inquisition was reinforced
an Index of forbidden books
which opposed the Catholic faith, was published