http://www.tomrichey.net The French Wars of Religion were a series of armed conflicts between French Catholics and Huguenots (Calvinists) in the sixteenth century. The Catholic faction was led by Catherine de Medici and the Huguenots were led by Henry of Navarre, who would later become Henry IV of France. Upon becoming king, Henry converted to Catholicism ("Paris is worth a Mass.") and issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted Huguenots limited toleration and rights to practice their religion openly in certain cities.

1. French
Wars of
Religion

2. Huguenots
French Protestants
(Calvinists)
Some rights reserved by manoellemos

4. Catherine
de’ Medici
Queen of
France

5. Catherine’s Sons
The last of the Valois Dynasty

6. Queen
Regent
Some rights reserved by Arne Hendriks

7. Some rights reserved by Wolfgang Lonien

8. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
20,000 Protestants Killed

9. Henry IV
Henry, the
Protestant King of
Navarre, defeats the
Catholic League.
Henry IV, as Hercules vanquishing the
Lernaean Hydra (i.e. the Catholic League),
by Toussaint Dubreuil, circa 1600

10. Worth
a Mass
Some rights reserved by Larry Johnson

11. Politi-Q

12. Politique
Politics
Over
Religion
Henry IV

13. Politique
Politics
Over
Religion
Cardinal Richelieu

14. The Edict
of Nantes
(1598)

15. RELIGIOUS
TOLERATION
(Within Limits)

16. House of
Bourbon
Bourbon monarchs
would rule France
until the French
Revolution.
Art Credit: Sodacan

17. KEY POINTS
• HUGUENOTS (French Calvinists)
• Catherine de Medici
• Queen of France (Catholic)
• St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
– 20,000 Protestants Killed
• Henry IV (of Navarre (Protestant)
• Politique (“Paris is worth a mass.”)
• Edict of Nantes
• House of BOURBON
– Succeeded Valois Dynasty
Art Credit: Sodacan