Reformation Vocab

95 Theses (1517)

• Written by Martin Luther, criticizing the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences and abuses of power.

• Sparked the Protestant Reformation.

• Significance: Challenged papal authority, emphasized salvation by faith alone, and encouraged the spread of reform through the printing press.

Diet of Worms (1521)

• Imperial council called by Charles V, where Luther was ordered to recant his teachings.

• Luther refused, saying “Here I stand,” leading to his excommunication.

• Significance: Marked the official break between Luther and the Catholic Church and inspired more Protestant support.

Protestants

• General term for Christian groups that broke from the Catholic Church during the Reformation (Lutherans, Calvinists, Anabaptists, etc.).

• Significance: Sparked religious wars, divided Europe, and weakened Catholic unity.

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

• Settlement within the Holy Roman Empire that allowed princes to choose either Lutheranism or Catholicism for their state.

• “Cuius regio, eius religio” = the religion of the ruler is the religion of the people.

• Significance: Temporarily reduced religious conflict but excluded Calvinists and Anabaptists.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

• English law declaring Henry VIII the head of the Church of England.

• Significance: Formalized England’s break with Rome, beginning the English Reformation.

Book of Common Prayer (1549)

• Written by Thomas Cranmer, standardizing worship in the Church of England.

• Significance: Created religious unity in England but also sparked resistance from Catholics and Puritans.

Elizabethan Settlement (1559)

• Under Elizabeth I, compromise between Catholics and Protestants in England.

• Anglican Church retained some Catholic traditions but maintained Protestant doctrine.

• Significance: Brought relative religious stability to England, though tensions with Spain and Puritans remained.

Spanish Armada (1588)

• Naval fleet sent by Philip II of Spain to invade Protestant England.

• Defeated by English navy (and storms).

• Significance: Strengthened England’s Protestant identity, marked the decline of Spanish naval dominance, and boosted Elizabeth I’s reputation.

Calvinism

• Founded by John Calvin, emphasizing predestination, strict moral codes, and simplicity in worship.

• Spread to Switzerland, France (Huguenots), the Netherlands, and Scotland (Presbyterians).

• Significance: Inspired disciplined communities and fueled conflicts where Calvinists opposed Catholic rulers.

Huguenots

• French Calvinists who faced persecution in Catholic France.

• Involved in the French Wars of Religion.

• Significance: Their struggle for religious freedom culminated in the Edict of Nantes (1598).

Anabaptists

• Radical Protestant group advocating adult baptism, separation of church and state, and pacifism.

• Significance: Seen as dangerous radicals, persecuted by both Catholics and Protestants, but influenced later religious groups (Baptists, Mennonites, Quakers).

Council of Trent (1545–1563)

• Catholic Church’s response to the Reformation.

• Reaffirmed traditional doctrines (salvation by faith AND works, seven sacraments, papal authority) but reformed corrupt practices (like indulgences).

• Significance: Central to the Counter-Reformation, strengthened Catholicism, and revived spiritual authority.

Jesuits (Society of Jesus, 1540)

• Founded by Ignatius of Loyola during the Counter-Reformation.

• Missionary order focused on education, conversion, and combating Protestantism.

• Significance: Spread Catholicism globally (Americas, Asia), defended the pope, and ran influential schools.

William of Orange (William the Silent)

• Leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spain.

• Advocated religious toleration and independence from Philip II’s Catholic rule.

• Significance: Key figure in the formation of the independent Dutch Republic.

Dutch Revolt (1566–1648)

• Revolt of Protestant provinces in the Netherlands against Catholic Spain.

• Involved brutal repression (e.g., Spanish Inquisition, Duke of Alba) and long wars.

• Significance: Led to Dutch independence (recognized in 1648, Treaty of Westphalia).

Catherine de Medici

• Powerful French queen and regent, mother of several kings.

• Tried to maintain royal authority during the French Wars of Religion.

• Associated with planning the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

• Significance: Symbol of Catholic resistance to Protestantism in France.

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572)

• Mass killing of Huguenots in Paris during a royal wedding (Henry of Navarre to Margaret of Valois).

• Ordered or at least permitted by Catherine de Medici.

• Significance: Intensified the French Wars of Religion and showed the extreme religious hatred of the time.

Henry IV (Henry of Bourbon, r. 1589–1610)

• Former Huguenot who converted to Catholicism to become king of France (“Paris is worth a Mass”).

• Issued the Edict of Nantes to grant religious toleration.

• Significance: Helped end the French Wars of Religion and laid groundwork for a stronger French monarchy.

Edict of Nantes (1598)

• Issued by Henry IV, granting limited toleration to Huguenots (freedom to worship in certain towns, hold office, and fortify cities).

• Significance: First major royal decree of religious toleration in Europe, though later revoked by Louis XIV.

Politique

• Term for leaders who put political stability above religious doctrine.

• Example: Elizabeth I of England and Henry IV of France.

• Significance: Marked a shift from religious fanaticism to pragmatic governance, paving the way for modern secular politics.