Setting the Stage for the Reformation

1. Setting the Stage for the Reformation Political Change during the Renaissance

2. Politics and the State • 15th Century rulers centralized power • Many sought to eliminate disorder & violence • Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain • Charles IV and Charles V of HRE • Frances I of France • Henry VII of England • All invested royal power with authority and sense of national purpose

3. Spain • Finally United through the marriage of Isabella to Ferdinand (El Catolico - “Most Catholic Nation”) • Isabella of Castile (and Spanish Americas) & Ferdinand of Aragon (Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Sicily & Naples) • No common political, judicial or administrative institutions • Aristocratic power lessened under I & F • Church used to strengthen royal authority • Reconquista ends (last Arabs driven out by 1492; majority of Jews relocated) • Inquisition established to maintain sense of “Spainishness”

4. Spain (cont’d) • Reconquista/ Inquisition (1478) • Attempt to drive Muslims (Moors) & Jews out • Conversos • Marranos - Jewish converts/ Moriscos – Muslim converts • Often “conversions” merely verbal • (Remember: Christianity / State STILL united in Europe until after the Reformation) • To be non-Christian = to be vs. the state • Many Jews had been important members of government and trade • Jews expelled: Flee to Northern Africa, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Southwestern France • Many tortured at the hand of the Spanish Inquisition • Moors driven out by 1492 with victory at Granada • 1502 – Isabella expels all professed Muslims from Spain

5. Holy Roman Empire • three states: • princely states • Saxony, Brandenburg, Bavaria • ecclesiastical states • bishoprics, abbacies • free imperial states • 50 states, not large territory BUT • dominated financial & commercial life

6. Golden Bull, 1356 • seven electors elect Holy Roman Emperor • Count of Palatine; Duke of Saxony; Margrave of Brandenburg; King of Bohemia • Archbishops of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier

7. Two Threats to the HRE • Ottoman Turks • Ottoman Empire is pressing in on Europe • Take Constantinople in 1453 – then move north toward Hungary (Bohemia and HRE would be next!) • Hanseatic League • Trade Association made up of German and Baltic states • Members interested in breaking financial and political ties with the HRE in order to gain independence.

8. Habsburgs – European Dynasty • Maximilian I (1493-1519) • administrative “circles”, Imperial Chamber, Imperial Council and Reichstag BUT… • strategic use of royal marriages • he marries Mary of Burgundy (France & Netherlands) • their son, Philip, marries Joanna heiress of Castile & Spanish America, Aragon & its Mediterranean & Italian possessions • their son, Charles, inherits all this PLUS is elected Holy Roman Emperor, 1519

9. Habsburg Brothers • Charles V (a.k.a. Charles I) – most powerful ruler of his time • Ferdinand (his brother) elected King of Bohemia and Hungary • attempt to protect areas from the Turks, who had been moving into Europe from Constantinople since 1453 • “Universal Monarchy” • Threat to balance of power and other nation’s independence • France especially worried

10. Charles V • unable to consolidate power in the Holy Roman Empire • unable to unite all of his landholdings into one “state” • constant warfare with Francis I (France) over Italy • no national army, must hire mercenary forces • 1527 sacks Rome – viewed as a blood thirsty tyrant • not enough funds to manage territories • Protestantism • Ottoman Turks • abdicates 1556, dies 1559

11. France • Francis I, 1516-1547 • Student of warfare – seduced by power • Mother Louise ruled while he was away waging war • Attempts to take over all of Italy – Fails BUT • Both Pope Leo X and the Sforza (Milan) recognize French “dominion” = influence in these areas (i.e. French are protectors of the Papacy) • Returns to France greatly influenced by the Renaissance • da Vinci • Fontainebleau

12. Palace Fontainebleau

13. Francis I • Once back in France begins to further consolidate his power throughout France • Concordat of Bologna, 1516: Pope Leo X formally agrees to let Francis appoint bishops and abbots – BUT – Francis agrees to let pope collect annuities & recognizes the pope’s superiority over church councils

14. Francis I vs. Charles V • looses Holy Roman Emperorship to Charles V • repeatedly beat in Italy by Charles V’s mercenary armies • Francis I tries to use Protestantism against Charles V • Henry II (1547-1559) reaches peace with Habsburgs – Peace of Cateau-Cambresis, 1559

15. England Disorder! Civil Conflict! Murder! The War of the Roses 1455-1485 House of York (white rose) vs. House of Lancaster (red rose)

16. Henry IV, 1399-1413 – Black Death / disorder / damages trade, agriculture, industry • Henry V, 1413-1422 – In line to become King of France BUT dies • Henry VI, mentally disturbed --- monarchy sinks • Edward IV – York, took throne in 1461 (-1483) • Began to reaffirm royal authority • Reduced royal reliance on Parliament for $ • Richard III, Duke of Gloucester (1483-5) • Edward’s sons imprisoned & murdered • Was Richard involved? • War continues • Henry Tudor VII (1485-1509) challenges Richard III • Defeats Richard III at Bosworth in 1485 • Marries Elizabeth of York (Edward IV’s daughter)

17. England, cont’d • Henry VII (Tudor) • Gained throne by force • Came to control the Parliament • Used the royal council to his advantage, Star Chamber (royal court dealing with legal issues w/o jury; court of appeals) • Won the support of many by promoting economic stability in England • Avoided expensive civil wars, passed laws against “livery and maintenance.” • Diplomacy, Diplomacy, Diplomacy

18. England (conclusion) • Henry VII (cont’d) - 1501 marries his son to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain - 1509 – Henry VII dies England is at peace – (after 200 years) Economically stable Monarchy has regained prestige