The Reformation Spreads

Unit I-04

Now that we understand the beginning of the Protestant Reformation with Martin Luther, we are going to turn now to examine how Protestantism manifested itself in particular countries and the development of other Protestant beliefs.

I. Types of ProtestantismII. Protestantism in Germany (Lutheranism)III. Protestantism in Switzerland (Zwinglianism) IV. Protestantism in France (Calvinism)V. Protestantism in England (Anglicanism)

PROTESTANTISM SPREADS

Types of Protestantism Protestantism is not ONLY Lutheranism.

Very quickly, Luther was not the only man to propose Protestant reform of the orthodox church.

As Protestantism spread, divergent and diverse ideas of Reform emerged Lutheranism: develops from ideas of Martin Luther. Most

popular in Germany. Zwinglianism: develops from ideas of Ulrich Zwingli, a

Swiss reformer. Most popular in Switzerland. Calvinism: followed teachings of John Calvin, a French

theologian. Most popular in France. Anglican: Protestant faith in England Anabaptists: radical reformers who believed in total

separation between church and state

PROTESTANTISM IN GERMANY

• 1517 – Luther begins critique of church with 95 Theses• 1519 – Luther called to participate in Leipzig Debate

• Catholic Johann Eck debates Luther on his teachings and his opinion of the church

• Debate important ideas like indulgences, penance, and the papacy

• Eck labels Luther a heretic• 1521 – Diet of Worms

• Diet: an assembly to discuss and make important decisions• Summoned by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to discuss

dissident views on church• Issues Edict of Worms, which denounces Luther and his

followers

EDICT OF WORMS ( 1 5 2 1 )

For this reason we forbid anyone from this time forward to dare, either by words or by deeds, to receive, defend,

sustain, or favour the said Martin Luther. On the contrary, we want him to be apprehended and punished as a

notorious heretic, as he deserves, to be brought personally before us, or to be securely guarded until those who have

captured him inform us, where upon we will order the appropriate manner of proceeding against the said Luther.

Those who will help in his capture will be rewarded generously for their good work.

PROTESTANTISM IN GERMANY

• Luther gradually realizes there can be no reforming the church from within • Begins to realize a break from the (Catholic) church is the

only path• Important to note: Luther did NOT want to separate from the

church at first• Luther protected by powerful German lord, Frederick

the Wise of Saxony• Lutheranism begins to develop as a Protestant

faith, alternative to orthodox Christianity (Catholicism)

LUTHER’S SUPPORTERS

• Princes in Germany, like Frederick the Wise• Potential for secular lords to gain lands from the church• Reformation could weaken HRE’s power, would mean

more power for German nobles• Growing German nationalism > general “Christendom”

• Peasants• Already upset about their conditions• Adopted Luther’s critique of the pope’s abuses with the

rest of the things they were angry about• Inflation• Hunger• Taxes• Now abuses by the church too

PEASANTS’ WAR IN GERMANY(1524)

• Peasants circulate the Twelve Articles• List of peasants’ demands, ex:

• Lower taxes• Access to hunting and fishing lands• Free serfs

• Use Luther’s vocabulary of religious reform to their own non-religious grievances

• Link Protestantism with revolution• Luther appalled his ideas are being used for violence

• Responds with “Against the Robbing and Murdering Hordes of Peasants”

• Lutheranism wins more support from lords• Rebellion suppressed

LUTHERANISM IN GERMANY

• Holy Roman Emperor Charles V struggling to suppress Protestantism in Germany• 1530 – Charles V threatens to arrest any Lutherans

unless that re-convert to Catholicism (…this doesn’t work).• 1540s and 1550s – Lutheranism sweeps across Holy

Roman Empire• 1555 – Charles V and his successor Ferdinand

negotiate peace with the Lutherans• Realize they can’t stop Lutheran spread.

PEACE OF AUGSBURG (1555)

• 1555 – Charles V and his successor Ferdinand negotiate peace with the Lutherans

• Establishes Lutheranism as a legitimate alternative to Catholicism

• German lords would define their territories as either Lutheran or Catholic• Cuius regio, eius religio – who rules, his religion• Lutheran in a Catholic principality? Free to move.

• Does not allow other types of Protestantism, just Lutheranism

• Major Significance: Opened door for Protestantism in all its forms to spread across Europe, church fractured

Protestantism in SwitzerlandSoon after Luther’s critique of the church in Germany, Swiss Christians got involved in the growing Protestant Reform movement.

Many Swiss eager for social and religious change. Like peasants we just saw in Germany, they too are upset with current order and hungry for change.

Leader of the Reform in Switzerland

Influenced by Erasmus 1519 – becomes priest in

Zurich, begins critique of church◦ Rejects saints and pilgrimages◦ Rejects purgatory◦ Ends clerical celibacy◦ Dismisses most of the sacraments

Believes in following only scripture, not doctrine of church as an institution

Ulrich Zwingli(1484-1531)

Later portrait of Zwingli, 1850s

At first, there’s the possibility of forming a single, unified Christian religion that would be strong enough to oppose Catholicism

1529 – Luther and Zwingli meet to discuss this possibility.◦ Disagree strongly over Eucharist and the “Real Presence of

Christ” in communion Zwingli believes the Eucharist is completely symbolic; Jesus

not physically there Luther still believes that Christ’s body and spirit were both

present in the Eucharist Zwingli also encourages iconoclasm, the destruction

of images The result? Zwinglianism spreads in Switzerland,

Lutheranism in Germany

Sects of Protestantism Develop

French Protestants embrace Calvinism, teachings of John Calvin French Calvinists called Huguenots.

Problems? Protestantism suppressed in Catholic France by King Francis I.

PROTESTANTISM IN FRANCE

Portrait of Francis I.

Calvinism based on ideas of French humanist scholar John Calvin (1509-1564) Called to Protestantism in the

1530s, begins to critique churchProtestants being suppressed

by Catholic French King Francis I

1535 – Calvin and his family flee France, go to Switzerland

1536 - Publishes The Institutes of the Christian Religion Explains Protestant beliefs to

readers

PROTESTANTISM IN FRANCE

Stressed the power and majesty of God Compare to Luther’s emphasis on human salvation

For Calvin, man is sinfulIf God were only just, then everyone would be

damned because everyone is a sinner. But God is merciful.

Predestination – belief that God preordains who would be saved (the “Elect”) and who would be damned Power in God’s hands

CALVINISM

Protestantism in England Protestant ideas begin

spreading from the continent to England

Henry VIII (r. 1509-1547) king of England• Not a Protestant (Not at first? Not

at all? Debated by historians.)• 1521 – Defended Catholicism,

wrote Defense of the Seven Sacraments

However, Henry VIII has a problem: He needs a male heir…

Henry VIII’s Heir Problem 1509 – Henry VIII had married

Catherine of Aragon• Unable to produce a son to be heir

Soon, Henry VIII meets and falls in love with Anne Boleyn…

Henry VIII tries to secure annulment to dissolve his first marriage but fails.• Problem 1? Pope Clement VII busy

with Protestant problem• Problem 2? Pope related to Catherine.

1533 – Anne becomes pregnant…• Henry in a bind because he needs this

child, if a son, to be legitimate

Portrait of Anne Boleyn

Henry VIII and Protestantism To solve these problems, Henry VIII ignores pope as

head of church 1533 – Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer

annuls Henry’s marriage to Catherine, recognizes marriage to Anne

Anne gives birth…to a daughter, Elizabeth• Henry recognizes her as legitimate

1534 – Henry VIII issues the Act of Supremacy• Declares King of England, not the pope, as the head of the

Church in England English monarch is now the “only supreme head on earth of the

Church of England”• Establishes an Anglican church with the King as the head• Recognized as the start of the Protestant Reformation in England

Henry VIII and Thomas More Not everyone happy with

Henry’s split from the Catholic church

Thomas More (1478-1535): a Christian humanist but loyal to Catholic church, served Henry VIII as Lord Chancellor (very important)• Opposed reform teachings of Luther

1533 – refused to attend coronation of Anne Boleyn

1534 – refuses to acknowledge Act of Supremacy

Henry VIII and Thomas More Arrested for treason

• By not agreeing to the Act of Supremacy

1535 – Put on trial 6 July 1535 – Executed for

treason Significance: Now have a

Catholic martyr in the Protestant Reformation

Anabaptists• More “radical” Protestants• Believed that people should only be baptized as adults

when they can make an informed decision• Advocated total separation between church and state

• Remember: this is big because we are still in a very religious environment in the 16th century

• Most believed Good Christians should not participate in government or war

• In Munster in 1534, burned all books except Bible

Women and ProtestantismAmidst all of this arises the question about women in the

movement If the individual has the ability to communicate with God without a

priest, how does the power of the female individual fit in? Can women interpret scripture by themselves, or do they need men to do it for them?

Can women be religious leaders?Both Luther, Calvin maintain noMarie Dentiere (1495-1561): female Reformer from

Switzerland, raises this woman questionBelieved that men and women were equally qualified to interpret

scripture.Represents changing self-awareness and identity of women

Compare to female humanist scholar Isotta Nogarola (1418-1466) who tried to debate with male humanists and was shut out of discussion.

Ideals of Protestantism combined with a dissatisfaction with current state of affairs and a growing national spiritMedieval concept of a united “Christendom” at first fractured, then destroyedIntroduces religious diversity

Not just “Catholic vs. Protestant” but all the types of Protestantism

Successful spread of Protestantism across Europe (for various spiritual and political motives, as we’ve seen today) sets the stage for serious conflict between Catholics and Protestants…

EFFECTS & REASONS FOR SUCCESS