Backgrounds & Beliefs
What was France's main religion before the wars?
Catholicism
What event began the French Wars of Religion?
The Massacre at Vassy
Who was the Queen Mother of France during the wars?
Catherine de' Medici
What was the name of the document that ended the French Wars of Religion?
The Edict of Nantes
Who was the leader of the Catholic League?
Henry, Duke of Guise
Who were the Huguenots?
French Protestants who followed Calvinism
Who led the attack at the Massacre of Vassy?
The Duke of Guise
What religion was Henry of Navarre originally?
Protestant (Huguenot)
In what year was the Edict of Nantes issued?
1598
Who was the Huguenot military leader killed in the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre?
Admiral Gaspard de Coligny
Which country's religious ideas influenced the Huguenots?
Switzerland and Germany
What year did the Massacre at Vassy take place?
1562
What phrase did Henry IV say to justify his conversion to Catholicism?
Paris is worth a Mass
What freedoms did the Edict of Nantes give to the Huguenots?
The right to worship freely and hold public office
What noble family was the Duke of Guise from?
The powerful Catholic Guise family
Why did the French government see Protestantism as a threat?
It challenged the Catholic Church and royal authority
What major event in 1572 shocked all of Europe?
The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Who was assassinated in 1589 for being seen as an enemy of the Catholic faith?
King Henry III
How did the Edict of Nantes help France recover?
It brought peace and unity after decades of war
Why did King Henry III run off?
What did Huguenots want?
They wanted to worship and remove corruption
Why was the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre such an important turning point?
It showed how deep the divide between the Catholics and Protestants had become
How did Henry IV’s conversion to Catholicism reflect his political strategy rather than his personal faith?
It showed he valued national unity and peace over real faith, using religion as a tool for political stability.
Why was Catherine de’ Medici considered controversial?
She tried to balance both sides but often made things worse - and was linked to the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre