Importance of the Weaknesses of the French Crown in Explaining the Outbreak of the French Wars of Religion in 1562

Importance of the Weaknesses of the French Crown in Explaining the Outbreak of the French Wars of Religion in 1562

Previously France had been ruled by Henry II, a strong experienced

ruler. It was, however, an unfortunate jousting accident lead to the

swift decline of the French monarchy. Henry’s successor, Francis II,

was only fifteen years old on his accession to the throne in 1559. He

was inexperienced and easily manipulated. Charles IX, a ten year old

who relied upon the help of Catherine de Medici, his regent, then

succeeded him. It was this new weak monarchy that acted as a catalyst

for the many underlying problems that had been previously controlled.

The weaknesses of the monarchy allowed factional rivalry to increase,

social-economic problems to worsen and also sanctioned an over

powerful regent to create catastrophic religious policies. It was a

combination of these factors and the burgeoning Calvinist movement

that eventually resulted in the outbreak of the French Wars of

Religion.

France housed a large number of noble families. The three leading

families controlled vast regions of the country. The Montmorency/

Chatillon family controlled the central regions of France, the Bourbon

family controlled the south west and the Guise family held their power

across the east. These families were bitter rivals, each fighting for

further influence in court. Under Henry II’s rule, power in court was

divided between the Montmorency family and the Guise family. Henry had

managed to control all three families and prevent them from acquiring

too much power and minimised feuds between the nobility. However,

after the succession of Francis I...

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...he lack of crown control over

these factions allowed further conflicts to develop as the families

fought for power.

There were however certain factors that further contributed to the

outbreak of war. Foreign influence in the form of Calvinism

missionaries significantly increased the number of Huguenots and

worsened the heated situation between the Catholics and Huguenots in

France. In addition the Triumvirate received financial backing from

Philip II of Spain who encouraged the Catholic faction to use

violence.

It is evident that the lack of monarchical power aided the development

of factional and religious rivalry combined with external foreign

influence and the spread of Calvinism to eventually result in the

outbreak of several religious wars that lasted for approximately ten

years of Charles IX’s reign.