REFORMATION R H Bainton The Reformation of the

REFORMATION

R. H. Bainton The Reformation of the 16 c Thus, the papacy emerged as something between an Italian city-state and European power, without forgetting at the same time the claim to be the viceregent of Christ. The Pope often could not make up his mind whether he was the successor of Peter or of Caesar. Such vacillation had much to do with the rise and success of the Protestant Reformation.

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION • Martin Luther (1483 -1546) attacks Roman Catholic church practices, 1517 • Indulgences: preferential pardons for charitable donors • Writes Ninety-Five Theses, rapidly reproduced with new printing technology • Excommunicated by Pope Leo X in 1521 • 1520 s-1530 s dissent spread throughout Germany and Switzerland

THE DEMAND FOR REFORM • Luther’s expanded critique • Closure of monasteries • Translations of Bible into vernacular • End of priestly authority, especially the Pope • Return to biblical text for authority • German princes interested • Opportunities for assertion of local control • Support for reform spreads throughout Germany

Caricature of Pope Alexander VI by Martin Luther, 1545

The Spread of Lutheranism

The Peasant Revolt - 1525

REFORM OUTSIDE GERMANY • Switzerland, Low Countries follow Germany • England: King Henry VIII (r. 1509 -1547) has conflict with Pope over requested divorce • England forms its own church by 1560 • France: John Calvin (1509 -1564) codifies Protestant teachings while in exile in Geneva • Scotland, Netherlands, Hungary also experience reform movements

PROTESTANT REFORMERS JOHN CALVIN • A French priest and lawyer, who like Luther, believed that Christians could only reach heaven through faith in God. • Unlike Luther, he promoted predestination, the belief that God had determined before the beginning of time who would achieve salvation. • Wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion, codifying Protestant teachings.

Reformation Europe (Late 16 c)

THE CATHOLIC REFORMATION • Roman Catholic church reacts • Refining doctrine, missionary activities to Protestants, attempt to renew spiritual activity • Council of Trent (1545 -1563) periodic meetings to discuss reform • Called by Pope Paul III, the goal was to end church abuses and set up schools to educate clergy • Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by St. Ignatius Loyola (1491 -1556) • Rigorous religious and secular education • Effective missionaries • spread Christianity to Asia, Africa and the Americas

WITCH HUNTS • Most prominent in regions of tension between Catholics and Protestants • Late 15 th century development in belief in Devil and human assistants • 16 th-17 th centuries approximately 110, 000 people put on trial, some 60, 000 put to death • Vast majority females, usually single, widowed • Held accountable for crop failures, miscarriages, etc. • New England: 234 witches tried, 36 hung

Burning of three witches in Baden, Switzerland 1585 Witches by Hans Baldung Grien, Woodcut, 1508 An image of suspected witches being hanged infor England, published Punishments witchcraft in in 1655. 16 th-century Germany. 1508.

• Divine Right: - According to this way of thinking, the king is an agent of God, and his authority to rule comes directly from God.

PHILLIP II • • Believe he ruled by divine right. Married Queen Mary I of England (“Bloody Mary”) Strong financial supporter of the Spanish Inquisition Persecuted Protestants, especially the Calvinists in the Netherlands

RELIGIOUS WARS • Protestants and Roman Catholics fight in France (15621598) • 1588 Philip II of Spain attacks England to force return to Catholicism • English destroy Spanish ships by sending flaming unmanned ships into the fleet • Netherlands rebel against Spain, gain independence by 1610

WILLIAM OF ORANGE • Led a revolt against Phillip II, using guerilla warfare - sudden unexpected attacks carried out by an unofficial military group or groups that are trying to change the government by assaults on the military.

Protestant Churches in France (Late 16 c)

THE THIRTY YEARS’ WAR (1618 -1645) • Holy Roman emperor attempts to force Bohemians to return to Roman Catholic Church • All of Europe becomes involved in conflict • Principal battleground: Germany • Political, economic issues involved • Approximately one-third of German population destroyed

1618 -1648

Loss of German Lives in 30 Years’ War