Key Figures and Events of the Protestant Reformation

These flashcards cover key figures, events, beliefs, and outcomes related to the Protestant Reformation and its impact on religious and political dynamics in Europe.

Martin Luther

German monk who criticized Church corruption and initiated the Protestant Reformation.

John Calvin

French reformer who founded Calvinism and emphasized God's sovereignty and predestination.

Geneva

Swiss city ruled by Calvin's strict religious principles; model for Protestant communities.

Puritans

English Protestants aiming to purify the Anglican Church of Catholic influences.

Anabaptists

Radical reformers rejecting infant baptism; promoted adult baptism and church-state separation.

Jesuits

Catholic order founded by Ignatius of Loyola focused on education and missionary work.

Carmelites

Catholic religious order known for mysticism, reformed by Teresa of Ávila.

Hapsburgs

Powerful Catholic dynasty that ruled Austria and Spain during the Reformation.

Philip II of Spain

Devout Catholic monarch who suppresses Protestantism in the Netherlands and England.

Henry VIII

English king who broke from the Catholic Church and founded the Anglican Church.

Predestination

Calvinist belief that God has predetermined who will achieve salvation.

Anglican Church

Created by Henry VIII, combining Catholic traditions with Protestant doctrine.

Book of Common Prayer

Standardized English worship text central to Anglican worship introduced under Edward VI.

Catholic Reformation

Effort of the Catholic Church to reform itself and combat Protestantism.

Council of Trent

Meeting of Catholic leaders reaffirming Church teachings and improving clerical discipline.

German Peasants' Revolt

Peasants used Luther’s ideas for reforms; Luther condemned their violence.

Peace of Augsburg

Agreement allowing German princes to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism.

Iconoclasm

Destruction of religious images by Protestants who viewed them as idolatry.

French Wars of Religion

Conflict between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants).

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Thousands of Huguenots killed in Paris by Catholic mobs; major turning point.

Edict of Nantes

Issued by Henry IV granting Huguenots limited religious tolerance.

Vernacular

Local languages used for the Bible and worship, making religion more accessible.

Mannerism

Artistic style after the High Renaissance characterized by exaggerated poses.

Baroque

Grand, emotional art used by the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation.

Thirty Years’ War

Religious conflict that began in the Holy Roman Empire between Protestants and Catholics.

Peace of Westphalia

Ended the Thirty Years' War; recognized state sovereignty and allowed Calvinism.

Valois

French royal family involved in the French Wars of Religion before the Bourbons.

Bourbon

French royal family that replaced the Valois, after Henry IV converted to Catholicism.

Protestants

Christians who broke away from the Catholic Church, emphasizing faith and scripture over Church authority.

Reformation

The 16th-century movement challenging Catholic authority that led to Protestant churches.