EUROPE
 Reformation Leaders |
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"MY CONSCIENCE IS HELD CAPTIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD"
Martin Luther
1533
ERASMUS & SIR THOMAS MORE
Christian Humanism
Sir Thomas More and Desiderus Erasmus were authors from the renaissance. More is most famous for his book Utopia. This book is essentially the setting for an ideal world. The word utopia was invented by More from a work of greek origin meaning "nowhere". During the reformation, a 'Utopia' was built. To some citizens, their utopia is anothers' dystopia. (I.E. Catholic and Protestant). Eventually the word 'Utopia' was brought into the world meaning a fictional society. To the Calvinists, Geneva was their Utopia, and any other country was a dystopia to their religious beliefs. Sir Thomas More's Utopia brought him close to the king, eventually becoming part of his council. Through promotions, More eventually became chancellor and refused to take an oath for the Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's children to heirs to the thrown, an infuriated Henry ordered for More to be tried and beheaded for treason.
Desiderus Erasmus, or just Erasmus, as another highly respected author of the renaissance and reformation period. With books like; The education of a Christian Prince (1504), and The Praise of Folly (1509), Erasmus' works were spreading quickly through Europe by the use of the printing press.
Another work by Erasmus was his Greek-Latin New Testament in 1516. In 1522, Martin Luther translated The New Testament into German, the vernacular at the time. Again in 1526, The New Testament was translated, this time to English.
The printing press spread these vernacular works, and the lay respected what they had to say. Eventually, Luther used The New Testament in his reformation plans.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-more/
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/tudor-england/sir-thomas-more/
http://protestantreformation-robinson.wikispaces.com/Reformation
Reformation Times
Religous Reformers
The religious reformers; Martin Luther, John Calvin, and the group of Anabaptist.
Martin Luther, (1483-1586), was a college professor, and a priest, at the time of the idea of indulgences. What was an indulgence? An indulgence consisted of a document used for the relief of sin and promise to enter heaven quicker, or even immediately, after death. Indulgencies are known to be the earliest idea of simony. Martin Luther knew this was not a way to obtain heavenly status, and so the first ideas of Lutheranism began.
John Calvin was a French humanist, a Huguenot himself like his followers, and a strong leader, to the Genevans. Calvin was the founder of Calvinism, a form of protestantism. Geneva was governed primarily by the way Calvinism expressed itself unto how a life is to be lived if you wish to go to heaven in the afterlife. Calvin despised the thoughts of pluralism, and absenteeism. Pluralism is the idea of an official holding more than one office at a time. Absenteeism goes hand in hand with pluralism, because absenteeism is the act of being absent from your office. If attending another office, you are missing from your alt. office.
The Anabaptists, preferably called Baptists, were a group of followers believing in baptizing during early adult hood, instead of during the youth. The Anabaptists believed the youth were not conscience of what a baptism meant and were not able to choose if they wanted to be baptized or not, so an Anabaptist individual would be baptized when they felt they could understand it and acknowledge what it meant. The word Anabaptist was thought to be a derogatory term by their enemies, which translated to "Rebaptizers". Being baptized as an infant was normal then, and to be baptized as an adult was unheard of, and repeating the ritual.
Catholic/Counter Reformation
Council of Trent, 1545-1563
The Catholic Reformation, known as the Counter Reformation by the Protestants. Protestants believe they had reformed first, so naturally they called it the 'Counter Reformation' and the Catholics believe they had their reform in motion before even the Protestant Reform.
For 18 years (1545-1563), The Council of Trent went on, and was the body of the Counter Reformation. 24 sessions were held during the time from December 13th, 1545 - December 4th, 1563. 17 decrees of Catholic Religion were published during the Council meetings. The Council's main concern? To condemn protestantism and clarify doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Jesuit Order was founded in 1534 by Ignatius de Loyola a priest, and spanish veteran. In 1540, Pope Paul III granted the request to form a new religious order, the society of Jesus. The Society was growing quickly and was spreading across oceans to Brazil, India, Ethiopia, and the Congo. Ignatius founded the Roman College (Gregorian University) and the Germanicum, a school for German priests. Over a hundred years from Loyola's death (1556), Ignatius was appointed as a Catholic Saint (1622).
Both of these foundations brought an upbringing in the revival of the RCC, and split Christianity farther between Protestantism and Catholicism. The conflict between is not resolved, but put to rest in the very distant future.
The Roman Inquisition was an organization feared by the Catholic people. The Inquisition was above the law; they were Generals and Cardinals, with power of Clergy and Laity. The inquisition was sought out to rid the world of Heretics, and anyone accused by the inquisition was guilty until proven innocent. Being tortured was a strong method used against people who were accused, but those convicted faced anything from property confiscation to death. This organization was the backbone of the Catholic Reformation in terms of toughness, they drank nails for breakfast! (there is no evidence of the Roman Inquisition party members drinking nails, it is a metaphor.)
The Index Librorum Prohibitorum, or simply the list of forbidden books, not to be confused with The Index Expurgatorius, the list of books okay to read with certain passages taken out. The Index was used as a counter agent against Heresy, and was a response to Calvinists and Lutherans who spread their ideas through pamphlets. Started by Pope Paul IV, the final list was finished in 1564.
English/Spanish Rulers Initiate Reform
1478-1547
The reform of the English Church caused by Henry VIII was of his own selfish interests. He needed an heir to his thrown. The pope would not condone a divorce, so King Henry took it into his own power to become the head of the English Church and allow his divorce to be processed. King Henry VIII became the head of the English Church, along with his normal king duties. This Tudor had a lot on his plate, and not because he was a heavy eater.
Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth Tudor was never married, and thus named, The Virgin Queen. Queen Elizabeth was a rare type of ruler. A female ruler.
Elizabeth was respected by her people, for being the sucessful monarch she was. Her success came from her refusal to marry, but this also meant she did not have an heir to the throne. When gaining the throne from her half sister, Mary, she knew going from a Catholic nation back to a Protestant nation could potentially start a civil war, so she became the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The reform of the English church was not going to happen overnight, but instead through a course of time, and having a full effect in the end.
The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II or Aragon, and Isabella I of Castile. During said Inquisition, Jews were to convert to Catholicism, often being called "Conversos". Those Jewish refusing to convert, or those who converted, but not fully, were expelled from the country of Spain.
http://www.thereformation.info/elizabeth.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition#Expulsion_of_Jews_and_repression_of_conversos
The Concordat of Bologna was signed in Rome on August 18, 1516. The Concordat of Bologna was an agreement between King Francis I of France, and Pope Leo X, Entitiling the income of the Catholic Church in France going towards Pope Leo X's side, while King Francis can apoint Benefices. The Concordat had no effect on generations later on inn the french royalty scene, non-Catholics were to be persecuted, and religous intolerance led to a civil war among the french. Here and down@!!
Calvinism Vs. The Anabaptists
On the subordination of the Church to the state
John Calvin, leader of Calvinists, believed the church should not be subordinate to the state. He believed the law could not enforce religion. The law should not penalize you for your beliefs. Calvin wished to achieve a Theocracy and "Christianize" the state.
Both Anabaptists and Calvinists wanted to be separated from the state. The religous groups knew that religion and law don't tie in well and made it clear they needed them seperate if they were to grow into a large scale religion.
The Anabaptists' view of the church being subordinate to the state shows as to the two being completely separated. The church does not infuence the state, and state law does not influence religion. The Anabaptists wish for no connection so if the state falls, the church stands tall.
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/john-calvin/
http://evangelicaluniversalist.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1034
Huguenots' Institutional Control Challenges
Huguenots, or Calvinists, occupied 10% of the population by 1559, the year Henry II was "Accidentaly" shot in the face. When the French heard of this setback, they decided it was a perfect time to attack. There was a battle, of fighting, iconoclasm, and mobs running in the streets. The Calvinists began the iconoclasm, breaking stained glass windows, destroying paintings, and wreaking overall havoc. "Purifying the church" Calvinists called it. Vandalism is what it would be called today. The French attempted to protect their religious artwork by forming groups around them (not very succesful). Catholic Royalists and Calvinist Monarchs fought like they had been enemies since the beginning of time. In a failed attempt to make peace, Margaret of Valois was planned to marry Henry of Navarre. The Catholics attacked the Calvinists once more, in Paris, which sprouted a civil war, lasting 15 years.
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589) A power thirsty wife to Henry II of France. Mother of 10 including Francis II, Charles IX, & Henry III. She would be the boss of Henry II's sons because they were to feeble to rule or fight back. With a lust for power, an a fear of losing it, Catherine arranged a marriage between her daughter Margaret of France and Henry III of Navarre. Catherine is believed to have planned the Saint Bartholomew's day massacre.
On August 24, 1572, anywhere from 5,000-30,000 bodies lay over the bloodied soil and cobblestone. When the wedding attempt for Margaret of France to marry Henry of Navarre, the Catholic wedding guests slaughtered the Calvinist guests in this brutal massacre, bringing mobs and a civil war to last 15 years.
The War of the Three Henries last 2 years (1587-1589). As the last conflict ending the Religious Wars of France, this was a fairly important battle. The three Henries are: King Henry III of France, Henry of Navarre, and Henry of Guise. The fight was over the power France, as Henry III signed the Treaty of Nemours, provided by Henry of Guise, which kicked Henry of Navarre of his rightful throne. This treaty handed the throne off to Henry III, thus starting this 3-way battle for the power of France.
Henry IV ruled over France for 21 years, and ruled Navarre for 38 years. In 1593, Henry III converted to Catholicism publicly Not so long after that, Henr III became Henry IV and was crowned King of France. Henry saw the religious differences in France, and so then granted the Edict of Nantes, giving French Protestants some religous lee-way, but not freedom. It was enough lee-way to bring the religous wars (36 years and going strong) in France to a hault. Henry had defeated the Spanish, the Catholic, and now he had overcome religious warfare.
Charles IV, King of Bohemia, King of the Romans, Holy Roman Emperor, and King of Italy! Some people can just do it all, like Charles IV did to try and restore Catholicism in the Holy Roman Empire. Charles IV had set a goal to re-establish Catholicism he owned territory in the Roman Empire, ans many other places too. He used these properties to an advantage in his endeavors to reform Catholicism.
Phillip II of Spain had joined with England, France, and The Seven United Netherlands to form The Triple Alliance. The Triple Alliance, consisting of Elizabeth I; England, Henry IV; France, and Johan Van Oldenbarnevelt; The Netherlands. This alliance was not succesful in their plan to revive Catholicism, but peace treaties were signrd in the end between the allianced countries.
Phillip III (right) was the king of Spain and Portugal after his father Phillip II. Phillip III (1578-1621) and Phillip IV (left) both came up with policies to restore Catholicism by appointing Catholic priests to have control over great areas under their monarchal rule.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_III_of_Spain#Religion.2C_Philip_and_the_role_of_women_at_court
http://jalvarez0871.wix.com/apeuro
