kids encyclopedia robot

French Wars of Religion facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Francois Dubois 001
A contemporary painting of the St. Bartolomew day's massace

The French Wars of Religion is the name for a total of eight wars fought in France, in the 16th century. The wars opposed Catholics and Protestants. The protestants were also called huguenots. The Catholics won, ending with the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, committed in the night between 23rd and 24th August 1572. Peace was strengthened with the Treaty of Nantes in 1598.

Even though these wars are called wars of religion, religion only played a small part, power politics were also important. These wars were the last attempt of regional rulers against the centralized power of the monarchy.

Images for kids

  • John Calvin - Young

    John Calvin, whose ideas became central to French Protestantism

  • François Ier Louvre

    After an initial period of tolerance, Francis I repressed Reformist ideas

  • Conjuration amboise

    Contemporary woodcut of executions following the Amboise conspiracy

  • Catherine de Médicis - entourage de François Clouet

    Queen regent Catherine de' Medici, circa 1560

  • Le Sac de Lyon par les Réformés - Vers1565

    Looting of the Churches of Lyon by the Calvinists, in 1562, Antoine Carot

  • Print entitled Horribles cruautes des Huguenot en France 16th century

    Print depicting Huguenot aggression against Catholics at sea, Horribles cruautés des Huguenots, 16th century

  • Theatre des cruautez des Hereticques de nostre temps

    Plate from Richard Rowlands, Theatrum Crudelitatum haereticorum nostri temporis (1587), depicting supposed Huguenot atrocities

  • Battle of Moncontour 1569

    Battle of Moncontour, 1569

  • Procession de la Ligue 1590 Carnavalet

    Armed procession of the Catholic League in Paris in 1590, Musée Carnavalet.

  • Le duc de Guise lors de la journee des barricades by Paul Lehugeur 19th century

    The Duke of Guise during the Day of the Barricades.

  • Entrance of Henry IV in Paris 22 March 1594

    Entrance of Henry IV in Paris, 22 March 1594, with 1,500 cuirassiers.

  • Départ des espagnols de Paris le 22 mars 1594 Musée Carnavalet

    Departure of Spanish troops from Paris, 22 March 1594.

  • Henry IV en Herculeus terrassant l Hydre de Lerne cad La ligue Catholique Atelier Toussaint Dubreuil circa 1600

    Henry IV, as Hercules vanquishing the Lernaean Hydra (i.e. the Catholic League), by Toussaint Dubreuil, circa 1600. Louvre Museum.

  • Edit de Nantes Avril 1598

    The Edict of Nantes, April 1598

  • Soubise 12 15 Septembre 1625

    The French royal fleet captures the Île de Ré, a Huguenot stronghold.

  • RichelieuRochelle

    Richelieu, depicted at the 1627–1628 Siege of La Rochelle, put an end to the political and military autonomy of the Huguenots, while preserving their religious rights.

  • Dragonnades430

    Protestant engraving representing 'les dragonnades' in France under Louis XIV.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Guerras de religión de Francia para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
French Wars of Religion Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.