Chapter 16 - Protestant Reformation

Christian humanism

Taking idea of Humanist movement from Renaissance and applying it to the Catholic Church. Wanted to reform Church to make daily life better/help the people.

Salvation

The state of going to heaven through faith alone and/or through faith and good works

Indulgence

A release from all or part of punishment for sin by the Catholic Church, reducing time in purgatory after death. Disliked by Christian humanists and protestants because of favoring the wealthy.

Martin Luther

Initially wants Church reform like Erasmus. When he is ignored, writes 95 Theses. When excommunicated from the Church, advocates for Lutheranism.

Desiderius Erasmus

Writes Praise Folly which makes fun of Catholic Church policies and corruption. Suggests reform but does not go as far as advocating split from the Church.

Ninety-five Theses

Luther's complaints against the Catholic Church. Focused on the sale of indulgences, greed, and corruption of the church.

Complaints against the Catholic Church

- Church corruption

- Church focus on politics and not spiritual needs of people

- Priests that didn't know their spiritual duties

- Church focus on money; sale of indulgences

- Church beliefs; idea that faith and good works necessary for salvation

Luther's break with Catholic Church

Tried to get the Catholic church to reform. When they ignored, nailed 95 Theses to Church door. When Luther issue brought before the Diet of Worms, he was excommunicated. Luther was made an outlaw, his works burned, and was sent into hiding by his local lord Frederick III who did not want to challenge power from Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor). Luther sets to convincing more and more German lords to aid him.

Rise of Lutheranism

Luther's movement became a revolution.

- Popular for social reasons - cares for the common/average person and their spiritual needs.

- Popular for political reasons - Tool for nobles/lords to attempt to gain power from monarchs. In process, makes their commoners happy.

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor, controlled an immense empire consisting of much of Europe. The only thing that unified this empire was their Catholic faith. Close friends with the Pope, uses the Catholic Church to help maintain political control. Pope wants favor in return, Charles V to do away with Luther.

Peace of Augsburg

Best evidence of political connection to the Reformation, Charles V of Holy Roman Empire forced to give into his German lords who want power (Frederick III hiding Luther). Charles V already faced threat of France, Turks. Cannot also face his own lords. Church/Rome not happy. Charles V Lets Lords select if their lands will be Lutheran or Catholic. Legitimizes the split of the Church, legitimizes Lutheranism.

Conflicts faced by Charles V

Threatened by France for political power throughout Europe. Threatened by the Ottoman Turks invasion into Spain. Threatened by the 300 lords and rulers in the Holy Roman Empire that wanted increased authority and control (did not like papal control that came with Charles V). Threatened by the Catholic Church upset with the challenge to their power and

influence

Justification

Process of being justified, or determined worth of salvation, by God

Predestination

belief that God has determined in advance who will be saved (the elect) and who will be dammed (the reprobate)

Annul

declare invalid

Ulrich Zwingli

Wanted to reform the Catholic Church in Switzerland. Churches stripped of decorations and ornamentation. Catholic services replaced with simple scripture reading, prayer, and sermons. War would breakout between Swiss Protestants and Swiss Catholics. His followers were wiped out and he was executed.

John Calvin

Fled Switzerland to France for safety. Published Institutes of the Christian Religion as a summary of his Protestant thought. Believed faith alone was sufficient for justification/salvation. Believed in predestination; idea that God had preselected people to be saved and others damned (differed from Luther)

Henry VIII

Brought reformation to England because he wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, in a continued attempt to have a male heir. The Pope was unwilling to annul his marriage because Catherine was the daughter of the King of Spain, so he had parliament break them from the Catholic Church in the Act of Supremacy 1534 to create the Anglican Church of which he would be the highest authority.

Act of Supremacy of 1534

Formally recognized England's split from the Catholic Church and the formation of the Anglican Church with the English king as the highest authority.

Thomas Cranmer

Archbishop of Canterbury, highest religious office in England that did end up granting Henry VIII his annulment once the Anglican Church was formed.

English Nobility

Approved of the change because it meant they no longer had to sharepower with the Church. In addition, Catholic Church lands and relics were given to the nobles as treasure.

Effect of Reformation in England

Henry VIII's children (Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth) would struggle with shaping religious tension in England. Their struggles were a result of the ebb and flow citizen feelings and reactions to change.

Key difference between Protestant religions and Catholic Church

On the issue of salvation, Protestants felt faith alone would lead to salvation while Catholic Church said faith and good works (buying indulgences and going on pilgrimages) would lead to salvation.

Crisis for Catholic Church

Lost followers with Lutheranism spreading in Holy Roman Empire (German States) and Scandinavia, Calvinism spreading in Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and Eastern Europe, and the Anglican Church in England. Became clear war to destroy these would not succeed.

Counter Reformation/Catholic Reformation

When the idea of war and destroying protestant faiths did not work, looked for a solution. This included three parts.

- Formation of the religious order the Jesuits to convert individuals back to the Catholic Church

- Reform the papacy (church leadership) to eliminate greed and corruption

- Council of Trent to establish clear Catholic doctrine or beliefs.

Council of Trent

Catholic Church declared beliefs:

- Faith and good works necessary for salvation,

- Belief in all seven sacraments; most protestant faiths simplified to four

- Belief in indulgences though they should no longer be purchased

Social Impact of Reformation

- Period continued a push towards increased education with people reading about new religions

- Normalized the view of the clergy/church leadership

- Continued traditional gender roles

- Heavy persecution of individuals based on their religious affiliation/ethnicity. Leads to open attacks.

Political Impact of Reformation

- Nobles challenge monarchs for power

- Wars of Religion; Catholic vs Protestant

- Wars of Religion; Protestant vs Protestant

Lutheran

Protestant faith centered in Holy Roman Empire (Germany) and spreads throughout Europe

-First protestant religion; legitimized by Peace of Augsburg

- Believed in faith alone for salvation, not faith and good works. Common to many Protestant faiths

Zwinglian

Protestant faith centered in Switzerland.

- Advocated for plain churches without decorations and ornamentation

- Believed in simple services with scripture reading, prayer, and sermons

- Attempted to unify with other protestant faiths

- Crushed/executed by Swiss Catholics

Calvinist

Protestant faith. Calvin fled Switzerland for France.

- Based on book by Calvin; Institutes of the Christian Religion

- Believed faith alone for salvation

- Believed in predestination; God preselected people to be saved and others to be damned. Differed from Luther

- Advocated for theocracy or government by religious authority

Anglican

Protestant faith centered in England

- King Henry VIII wants divorce; pursuit of male heir

- Pope refuses to annul marriage because of political implications- Act of Supremacy of 1534; parliament breaks from Catholic Church and gives Henry as head of Church of England

- Executed those that opposed; Thomas More

- Win over noble to by giving former church lands to them

Anabaptist

Protestant faith that was located throughout Europe.

- Considered more to the radical side of Protestant faiths

- Believed in separation of church and state; government should be run independently of religion

- Believed baptism a spiritual rebirth, baptized as adults- Believed in equality of all believers

- Viewed as dangerous because of radical views. Attacked by both Catholics and other protestants

Impact of the Peace of Augsburg

Becomes a boiling point for the rest of Europe. Peace of Augsburg only applied to Holy Roman Empire. Protestant faiths will spread rapidly, aided by invention of Guttenberg's printing press.

Frederick III

German noble that hid Luther from Charles V to create political pressure with the relationship between Charles V and the Pope.

Thirty Years War

Last of the religious wars. Begins because the Peace of Augsburg did not settle all Protestantism in the Holy Roman Empire.

- Expands to nearly all nations in Europe.

- Opportunity to gain land and power.

- Peasants are caught in the destruction; estimated 4-12 million killed.

- Holy Roman Empire completely destroyed.

Peace of Westphalia

Officially ended the Thirty Years War;

- Brought changes/a new period

- Identity/loyalty no longer to a lord, now to a nation (national identity)

- Importance of international relations (diplomacy)

- Idea of Christendom (single Christian kingdom) not achievable

- Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist.

French Wars of Religion

Centered on French Kings persecuting French Protestants.

- Huguenots; French protestants influenced by Calvin. Small portion of population.

- Mostly French nobles that wanted to challenge the political power of the king.

- After decades of conflict, and an estimated 2-4 million killed, Henry of Navarre (Huguenot leader) wins. Becomes King Henry IV.

- Surprisingly converts to Catholicism; knew he would never be accepted as a protestant. Attempts to appease both sides.

- Catholics okay because he converted

- Huguenots felt they had one of their own as king.

Spanish Wars of Religion (vs Netherlands)

William the Silent (Prince of Orange) led Dutch resistance/effort for independence

- Destroys Catholic Church to provoke harsh response by Philip II.

- Philip sends army to massacre Dutch citizens.

- Dutch band together in response, join William, push for independence.

- Loss for Philip and Spain, Dutch gain independence and it begins the golden age of the Dutch Republic

Spanish Wars of Religion (vs England)

Philip II sent Spanish Armada to destroy England for

1.) having helped the Dutch gain independence

2.) being a protestant kingdom

- England's great naval experience/ships defeat Spanish Armada

- Remaining Spanish ships sunk in a storm

- Devastating loss, cost bankrupts Spain. Never will be the dominant power in Europe again.

German Peasants War

First example of religious wars and atrocities

- Occurred in the Holy Roman Empire over the spread of Lutheranism

- Involved German nobles protecting Martin Luther vs Charles V.

- German nobles wanted to gain power from Charles V.

- Settled by Peace of Augsburg; Charles V facing too many challenges, forced to give in.

Edict of Nantes

Officially ends French Wars of Religion. Declared France officially Catholic, but Huguenots have rights (political rights and the right to worship).