Age of Reformation Key Terms

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

Decision by HRE Charles V to let the political authority in each territory of the Holy Roman Empire decide between the Catholic and Lutheran faith. Officially recognized Lutheranism in the Holy Roman Empire

Edict of Nantes (1598)

Issued by Henry IV of France, it granted liberty of public worship to Huguenots in 150 fortified towns.

John Calvin

Established a Protestant community in Geneva and published the Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536) which outlined the tenant of Predestination.

Martin Luther

Augustinian Monk who challenged church corruptions and dogma through Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura (Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Scripture Alone)

Diet of Worms (1521)

Called by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's at which Martin Luther was summoned to appear and recant his criticism of the Catholic Church or face excommunication.

Protestant

General term applied to all non-Catholic western European Christians.

Anabaptists

Protestant group who viewed baptism solely as an external witness to a believer's conscious profession of faith, rejected infant baptism, and believed in the separation of church from state.

Indulgences

was sold during the time of the Reformation by the Catholic Church as a means of obtaining forgiveness of one's sins and therefore reducing time in purgatory.

Simony

the selling of Church offices

Pluralism

The holding of many benefices (Offices) simultaneously but seldom visit or perform the spiritual responsibilities of those offices.

Catholic Reformation

The 16th Century reform movement in the Roman Catholic Church in reaction to the Protestant Reformation.

Huguenots

Term used for French Calvinists.

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

An attack on Calvinists in Paris on August 24, 1572 at the wedding ceremony of Margaret of Valois and Protestant Henry of Navarre that quickly spread throughout the French provinces.

War of Three Henries

This was the last of the wars that occurred over the religious differences in France, between the Catholics (Henry III of France and Henry of Guise) and Protestants (Henry IV)

Council of Trent

Called by Pope Paul III from 1545-1563 in response to the Reformation, to address corruptions, reinforce doctrine, and attempt to reconcile with the Protestants.

Index of Prohibited books

was a list of publications deemed heretical or anti-clerical and therefore banned by the Catholic Church.

Henry the VIII of England

Initially an opponent of the Reformation, but eventually broke with the catholic Church and issued the Supremacy act (1534).

Book of Common Prayer

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer prepared this to standardize worship, which included the order for all services of the Church of England.

Elizabethan Settlement

Laws that required outward conformity to the Church of England and uniformity on all ceremonies.

Baroque

A style of art marked by heavy and dramatic ornamentation and flourished between 1550-1750 and associated with the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor who, upon his succession to the throne, inherited the lands of Spain, Burgundy, and Austria. His reign was dominated by multiple wars with France, the Ottomans, and Protestant Princes.

Predestination

Belief that God has already decided all that will happen, especially with regard to the salvation of some and not others. Central tenet of Calvinism

Gustavus Adolphus

King of Sweden, has been called the "father of modern warfare," being one of the first military commanders to make use of mobile artillery on the battlefield. He fought for the Protestant cause in the 30 Years War.

30 Years War

European continental war that took place from 1618-1648. Most of the fighting took place in the Holy Roman Empire, although the war grew to include European powers outside of the Empire. What began as a local, religious conflict became more and more continental and political by the end.

Peace of Westphalia

Ended the 30 Years War. Its provisions weakened the Holy Roman Emperor and established France as the dominant power in Western Europe. The Dutch Netherlands and Switzerland became independent and outside of Hapsburg influence, while France gained Alsace and

Brandenburg

an ascendant Protestant kingdom in the Holy Roman Empire - gained territory, as well.

Salvation by Faith Alone

One of the central tenants of Martin Luther's theology; diminished the concept of "good works" in Catholic theology and was a main reason for the separation of Luther from Catholicism.

Vernacular

the everyday language of a region or country. Miguel de Cervantes, Geoffrey Chaucer, Dante, and Martin Luther all encouraged the development of their national languages by writing in the local language instead of Latin.

Puritans

Members of a group of English Protestants who did not believe that the Church of England had not reformed enough and wished to worship in their own congregations, despite English law requiring them to attend regular Anglican services.

Act of Supremacy

was an act of the Parliament of England under Henry VIII declaring that he was 'the only supreme head on earth of the Church in England'. Started and separated the Anglican Church from the Catholic Church and put the king as head.

Catherine De Medici

Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 and served as regent for her weak sons. Worked to navigate the Valois interests through the French Wars of Religion.

Excommunication

the action of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church