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New Approaches to European History #8
The French Wars of Religion, 1562-1629
This book is a new edition of Mack P. Holt's classic study of the French religious wars of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Drawing on the scholarship of social and cultural historians of the Reformation, it shows how religion infused both politics and the socio-economic tensions of the period to produce a long extended civil war. Professor Holt integrates court politics and the political theory of the elites with the religious experiences of the popular classes, offering a fresh perspective on the wars and on why the French were willing to kill their neighbors in the name of religion.
260 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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298 people want to read
About the author
Mack P. Holt
13 books6 followersMack P. Holt is Professor of History and received his Ph.D in History from Emory University in 1982. Before coming to George Mason in 1989 he taught at Harvard and Vanderbilt universities. From 1998 to 2002 he was also Director of the Honors Program in General Education, and he served as the department’s Director of Graduate Studies from 2004 to 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 4, 2025
Mack Holt gives a serious and balanced account of the French Wars of Religion.
The civil wars between Catholics (the religion of most French men and women) and Protestants (who were called Huguenots in France) began with the outbreak of violence in March of 1562 and, according to some historians, ultimately ended only with the fall of the last Huguenot stronghold of La Rochelle and the Peace of Alais signed in June of 1629.
Other historians regard the Edict of Nantes issued in 1598 under king Henry IV as the final point in these civil wars because after this edict of toleration the two opposing parties stopped fighting, and in the future the religious conflict would never be as intense as it used to be before 1598.
This is how the author states the main goal of his work: "What this book will propose is that the French Wars of Religion were fought primarily over the issue of religion as defined in contemporary terms: as a body of believers rather than the more modern definition of a body of belief."
Many people caught up in those conflicts felt compelled to act and react out of conscience. And yet, for those in positions of power, religious, political, and often financial motives were usually intertwined. Religion could sometimes be more of a smokescreen to promote a political agenda of powerful actors. For example, when it comes to the intervention of Philip II of Spain in the internal affairs of France during this period, religion (a claim to uphold the Catholic faith and fight Protestants) was mainly a cover. He needed constant turmoil in the neighboring kingdom to keep the French busy at home and prevent them from helping the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Empire.
The civil wars between Catholics (the religion of most French men and women) and Protestants (who were called Huguenots in France) began with the outbreak of violence in March of 1562 and, according to some historians, ultimately ended only with the fall of the last Huguenot stronghold of La Rochelle and the Peace of Alais signed in June of 1629.
Other historians regard the Edict of Nantes issued in 1598 under king Henry IV as the final point in these civil wars because after this edict of toleration the two opposing parties stopped fighting, and in the future the religious conflict would never be as intense as it used to be before 1598.
In any case, this period of French history was one of the most complex and darkest. The author tries to be objective and look at the events from different points of view. His main focus, however, is to examine the religious tensions that continually fueled the conflict. Holt shows how religious violence was inherent in sixteenth century society.
This is how the author states the main goal of his work: "What this book will propose is that the French Wars of Religion were fought primarily over the issue of religion as defined in contemporary terms: as a body of believers rather than the more modern definition of a body of belief."
Many people caught up in those conflicts felt compelled to act and react out of conscience. And yet, for those in positions of power, religious, political, and often financial motives were usually intertwined. Religion could sometimes be more of a smokescreen to promote a political agenda of powerful actors. For example, when it comes to the intervention of Philip II of Spain in the internal affairs of France during this period, religion (a claim to uphold the Catholic faith and fight Protestants) was mainly a cover. He needed constant turmoil in the neighboring kingdom to keep the French busy at home and prevent them from helping the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Empire.
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June 17, 2022Against the grain of modern historical thought, Mack P. Holt argues that the French Wars of Religion weren't just a cloak for personal or political power struggles. Nor were they the mere upshot of the socio-economic tensions resulting from the rise of the merchant class. The wars, Holt insists, were about what they claimed to be about: the irreconcilable religious differences that dissected France in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation.
At the same time, Holt emphasizes religion in sixteenth century terms, less as a body of beliefs than as a community of believers. "Protestants and Catholics alike..." he writes, "viewed each other as pollutants of their own particular notion of the body social, as threats to their own conception of ordered society." Holt underscores the degree to which the French monarchy—and by extension, the French nation itself—was a religious institution, so inextricably intertwined with Roman Catholicism as to make the idea of a secular society of religious toleration seem, not merely problematic, but oxymoronic.
Holt argues that the Edict of Nantes (1598), which allegedly brought the wars to an end, was not the victory for liberty of conscience that many have claimed. It was a tactical concession by the Catholics to buy the time they needed to reimpose religious uniformity in France. He disputes the common perception that Henri of Navarre's conversion to Catholicism was a cynical gesture to win the French throne. The famous phrase “Paris vaut bien un messe” (“Paris is well worth a mass”) was only ever attributed to him by his enemies. Bearing witness to the violent anarchy that tormented the people of France for three decades had convinced Henri of the principle of "un roi, une foi, une loi" (“one king, one faith, one law”). Henri's conversion to Catholicism, in short, was sincere. The subsequent persecution of the French Protestants ("Huguenots") would have proceeded apace, even if Henri's reign hadn’t been cut short by an assassin’s dagger. (I have my own thoughts on this issue, but I’ll save them for another review.)
In his introduction, Holt refers to the book as a “popular history,” but its tone and structure are academic. The stress is on the theological, economic, and social. The outstanding personalities of the war—Catherine de Medici, Henri III, Margaret of Valois, Henri of Guise, Jeanne de Navarre, Henri IV, Gaspard de Coligny, and others--do duly appear, but don’t come to life as in some other, more accessible works on the period. This is far from the first book I’d suggest for the casual reader.
For the less well initiated, I'd recommend starting with Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda, Henry of Navarre: The King Who Dared by Hesketh Pearson, or (if you can find a copy) The Edict of Nantes by Noel B. Gerson. For a classic fictitional treatment, there's La Reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas. (The 1994 cinematic adaptation, staring the breathtaking Isabelle Adjani, is excellent.)
At the same time, Holt emphasizes religion in sixteenth century terms, less as a body of beliefs than as a community of believers. "Protestants and Catholics alike..." he writes, "viewed each other as pollutants of their own particular notion of the body social, as threats to their own conception of ordered society." Holt underscores the degree to which the French monarchy—and by extension, the French nation itself—was a religious institution, so inextricably intertwined with Roman Catholicism as to make the idea of a secular society of religious toleration seem, not merely problematic, but oxymoronic.
Holt argues that the Edict of Nantes (1598), which allegedly brought the wars to an end, was not the victory for liberty of conscience that many have claimed. It was a tactical concession by the Catholics to buy the time they needed to reimpose religious uniformity in France. He disputes the common perception that Henri of Navarre's conversion to Catholicism was a cynical gesture to win the French throne. The famous phrase “Paris vaut bien un messe” (“Paris is well worth a mass”) was only ever attributed to him by his enemies. Bearing witness to the violent anarchy that tormented the people of France for three decades had convinced Henri of the principle of "un roi, une foi, une loi" (“one king, one faith, one law”). Henri's conversion to Catholicism, in short, was sincere. The subsequent persecution of the French Protestants ("Huguenots") would have proceeded apace, even if Henri's reign hadn’t been cut short by an assassin’s dagger. (I have my own thoughts on this issue, but I’ll save them for another review.)
In his introduction, Holt refers to the book as a “popular history,” but its tone and structure are academic. The stress is on the theological, economic, and social. The outstanding personalities of the war—Catherine de Medici, Henri III, Margaret of Valois, Henri of Guise, Jeanne de Navarre, Henri IV, Gaspard de Coligny, and others--do duly appear, but don’t come to life as in some other, more accessible works on the period. This is far from the first book I’d suggest for the casual reader.
For the less well initiated, I'd recommend starting with Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda, Henry of Navarre: The King Who Dared by Hesketh Pearson, or (if you can find a copy) The Edict of Nantes by Noel B. Gerson. For a classic fictitional treatment, there's La Reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas. (The 1994 cinematic adaptation, staring the breathtaking Isabelle Adjani, is excellent.)
January 29, 2016
As stated by previous reviewers, this book gives exactly what it should: a balanced and readable overview of these fairly fascinating wars.
The section on the St Bartholomew's Day massacres was my primary reason for reading, and especially interesting were those precious few moments discussing popular violence against Huguenots at the time. If anybody knows of a book or essay which discusses this phenomena in more detail then please do get in touch, I'm very interested and I'd like to pursue the subject further.
The section on the St Bartholomew's Day massacres was my primary reason for reading, and especially interesting were those precious few moments discussing popular violence against Huguenots at the time. If anybody knows of a book or essay which discusses this phenomena in more detail then please do get in touch, I'm very interested and I'd like to pursue the subject further.
September 1, 2018
Read for a uni assignment.
February 5, 2025
A obra "As Guerras Religiosas Francesas, 1562-1629", de Mack Holt, é um excelente trabalho que esclarece de maneira eficaz a complexidade das guerras religiosas na França. O livro aborda o contexto socio-histórico dos eventos, detalhando a relação entre religião e política. Destacando a luta dos huguenotes contra o princípio de "um rei, uma fé, uma lei", ele mostra como esse conflito se formou na interseção da religião e da história social.
A perspectiva de Holt ressalta que tanto os líderes huguenotes quanto os católicos são representados pelos mesmos padrões, e que ambos os lados estavam envolvidos em esforços para preservar ou questionar esses princípios. No entanto, o que mais me impressionou foi a natureza complexa dos personagens da época; nenhum dos lados é completamente bom ou mau, e todos eles apresentam abordagens pragmáticas para lidar com as circunstâncias. A mudança de religião de Henrique IV e as políticas em relação aos huguenotes são vistas como uma abordagem pragmática, destacando a multidimensionalidade dos eventos.
Entretanto, uma deficiência que observei na abordagem de Holt é a falta de atenção maior às aflições e sofrimentos enfrentados pelos huguenotes. O sofrimento e as demandas vividos pelos huguenotes não são suficientes explorados ao longo do livro, o que cria a impressão de que a dimensão humana foi ignorada. Esta lacuna me leva a buscar outras fontes para obter mais informações sobre o papel dos huguenotes na história e a magnitude da opressão que sofreram.
Embora o livro ofereça um bom contexto histórico e análises profundas, parece que seria benéfico incluir uma perspectiva mais ampla dos huguenotes. Holt apresenta explicações detalhadas que facilitam a compreensão de eventos complexos e possui um estilo de escrita fluido. Em suma, esta obra é uma valiosa fonte para aqueles que desejam aprender sobre as guerras religiosas francesas, mas acredito que teria sido ainda melhor se tivesse dado mais espaço à perspectiva huguenote.
A perspectiva de Holt ressalta que tanto os líderes huguenotes quanto os católicos são representados pelos mesmos padrões, e que ambos os lados estavam envolvidos em esforços para preservar ou questionar esses princípios. No entanto, o que mais me impressionou foi a natureza complexa dos personagens da época; nenhum dos lados é completamente bom ou mau, e todos eles apresentam abordagens pragmáticas para lidar com as circunstâncias. A mudança de religião de Henrique IV e as políticas em relação aos huguenotes são vistas como uma abordagem pragmática, destacando a multidimensionalidade dos eventos.
Entretanto, uma deficiência que observei na abordagem de Holt é a falta de atenção maior às aflições e sofrimentos enfrentados pelos huguenotes. O sofrimento e as demandas vividos pelos huguenotes não são suficientes explorados ao longo do livro, o que cria a impressão de que a dimensão humana foi ignorada. Esta lacuna me leva a buscar outras fontes para obter mais informações sobre o papel dos huguenotes na história e a magnitude da opressão que sofreram.
Embora o livro ofereça um bom contexto histórico e análises profundas, parece que seria benéfico incluir uma perspectiva mais ampla dos huguenotes. Holt apresenta explicações detalhadas que facilitam a compreensão de eventos complexos e possui um estilo de escrita fluido. Em suma, esta obra é uma valiosa fonte para aqueles que desejam aprender sobre as guerras religiosas francesas, mas acredito que teria sido ainda melhor se tivesse dado mais espaço à perspectiva huguenote.
December 27, 2016
Mack P. Holt offers an insightful analysis into the causes of the French Wars of Religion, from 1562-1629. He reasserts the importance of religion as a dominant factor in the mentalité of the people in 16th century France and provides detailed accounts of the events of the wars, as well as the events leading up to them and their aftermath, in order to support his argument. As well as being an educational book, Holt's narrative offers an account that makes for thoroughly enjoyable reading. This book is suited for historians studying the period, but also the everyday reader that is interested in learning more about the French Wars of Religion.
March 27, 2023
Not a bad book, but this should have been called "Socio-economic developments in 16th century France" rather than this. Seriously, one of the most important battles of the war is treated in roughly two sentences.
August 12, 2019
Perhaps the best short story about the French Wars of religion, going after the coronation of Henry IV and explaining the death throes of the Huguenot movement in the XVII century
November 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection of essays, and found it very helpful for understanding the 'why' as well as the 'what' of the period. I particularly appreciated the opening essay on Gallicanism.
August 9, 2023
A great and thankfully concise history of a period I'd long been aware of, but had always filed away as "something I'll dig into later". While I appreciated its focused narrative and enjoyed every session reading it, for some reason I wasn't usually compelled to return and it ended up taking an embarrassingly long time to finish, so I feel compelled to bring it down to 3 stars rather than the 4 it probably deserves.
January 28, 2010
Broadly revisionist work that overtly attempts to put the religion back in the history of the wars of religion. Works with the kind of Bossy/Duffy-esque definition of religion as a body of believers rather than a body of doctrine.
November 6, 2015
Excellent overview of late 16th century France.
February 26, 2016
Really enjoyed this book (much more than I thought I would). Clear, easy to follow, and just the right amount of information.
December 19, 2015
This book gave me exactly what I wanted--a concise, complete, balanced overview of the French Wars of Religion. It is well written, with just the right amount of detail.
November 30, 2014
Excellent survey of the series of wars fought in France between the Catholics and the Huguenots.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews