The French Religious Wars 1562–1598 (Essential Histories)

Many have said that religion causes war, but if one examines carefully the historical record one finds that the vast majority of people who adhered to some sort of religious dogma never participated in war, nor indeed in any kind of violent behavior. However there have been many conflicts that on the surface seem to have been fought over religion, with these conflicts arising because of differences in doctrine. The participants on both sides in these "religious wars" insisted on purity of thought in religious belief, and would not tolerate any deviation thereof. Such a deviation was considered a threat, and the "deviants" needed to be punished, banished from society, or even killed. At least this is how religious wars have been typically understood....This book is concerned with the religious wars that plagued France for thirty-six years. These conflicts were incredibly brutal and completely lacked moral justification. But were they fought over differences of religious opinion between Catholics and Protestants? The author of this book gives a different outlook, namely that they were instigated to some extent by the "noblemen" of the time, whose goal was to accumulate wealth, because it was wealth that differentiated them from the "commoners." The "noblemen" were not to engage in "mundane" occupations and needed large blocks of leisure time in order to "exercise body and mind." A small minority of these "noblemen" participated in armed conflict, in order to show off their "virtue." But most the author says remained in their estates and let others do the fighting. This state of affairs in the social structure of France at the time is of course abhorrent from the standpoint of modernity, excluding of course the modern conservative, who wants us to have respect for all institutions and hierarchies. But as this book clearly brings out, these "noblemen" were neither noble nor moral, and deserve absolutely no respect. Women were not allowed of course to occupy the throne of France. That privilege was given to the (male) king, whose rule was considered absolute and only subjugated to God.Both Catholics and Protestants in these conflicts can lay equal claim to brutality. Burnings at the stake were common to both sides, as was destruction of religious artifacts, and death penalties for `heresy'. And of course both sides had the "preachers and pamphleteers" who encouraged others to participate in armed conflict in order to defend their faith. These individuals of course excused themselves from any actual fighting. Every historical period has its share of yellow abdomens.The length of the book is one of its virtues, for it allows the curious reader and the non-specialist in history an overview that respects the facts without requiring a large commitment in reading time. References are given for those readers who demand more details. The author classifies the religious wars in this time frame in France as being a "civil war" and it began as a conflict between two groups of French nobles. One of these groups were Catholics who were loyal to the king, while the other consisted of Protestants who desired religious freedom for themselves and their followers. As is typical in historical events, the situation became more complicated as the conflict wore on. Other nobles started their own wars, and ignored the many peace treaties that came about throughout the time frame of the conflicts. It is fair to say though that nothing constructive resulted from these conflicts, and in fact French society suffered greatly from their waste and brutality. Religion may have not been the primary cause of these conflicts, but it did not help in eliminating them. It may indeed have given courage to those who fought. The nobles no doubt realized this and took full advantage of it.

Finally, Osprey is beginning to break new ground with its Essential History series. Professor Robert J. Knecht, an English scholar on French 16th Century history from the University of Birmingham, is the author of the latest volume in the series - The French Religious Wars 1562-1598. Knecht's book is well written and covers a much-neglected subject with considerable skill and insight. The French Religious Wars 1562-1598 begins with sections on the background to the conflict, which cover the related threads of religious and aristocratic dissent in mid-16th Century France. Initially, Professor Knecht shows that the French King - a staunch defender of the Catholic faith in the realm - was able to deal with the early spread of the Lutheran faith into France, but failed to inhibit the more virulent Calvinist strain. Indeed, the infiltration into France of Calvinist missionaries from Geneva resembled communist tactics in the 1920s and 1930s. By 1560, some of the French nobility had been converted and Protestants in France - dubbed "Huguenots" - had become a significant problem to the stability of the realm, although Knecht notes that they were only about 10% of the total population. Faced with this growing threat, the French monarchy adopted a policy of religious persecution, which inevitably led to violent clashes. It is also clear from Knecht's account that both sides used violence and wanton destruction to intimidate their opponents. Efforts at compromise failed and both sides gradually became committed to the conversion or elimination of the other. However, non-religious factors also influenced the outbreak of civil war in France, particularly the relationship between a relatively weak and cash-starved monarchy and opportunistic nobility. Indeed, one interesting characteristic of these wars was the propensity of major players to switch faith and loyalties as the tides of war shifted. Professor Knecht provides interesting detail on the military aspects of the wars as well. Although numerically strong, the French Royal Army comprised 70% foreign mercenaries. Paying the troops was thus a chronic problem and there was never enough cash to sustain armies for more than one year at a time, which induced a spasmodic quality into the conduct of campaigns. Both armies were also trained and equipped in essentially the same manner, as often happens in civil wars. Foreign military interventions occurred from time to time in support of both sides, but were never decisive. Professor Knecht's campaign narrative is 41 pages long and quite good. The detail on the Battle of Dreux in 1562 - where oddly the commanders of both sides were captured - is particularly interesting. Knecht's narrative also reveals the complex web of diplomatic, political and social factors which intertwined with the strictly military operations. The French Religious Wars were a complex historical phenomenon, but Professor Knecht succeeds in producing a remarkably coherent account of these conflicts. Maps in this volume include: a strategic map of battles and sieges, wars from 1572-1585, the battles of Dreux, St Denis, Coutras, Arques, Ivry, Huguenot security towns, Coligny's march and foreign aid, and the last wars in 1585-1598. The illustrations in this volume are also quite good. The author's bibliography is extensive and indicates real research, as well as providing a useful starting point for further reading. The "portrait of a soldier" section is much better than usual in these volumes, particularly the portrait of the brutal French Marshal Blaise de Monluc, who believed that, "cruelty was essential to the effective conduct of war."

Overall, this is a pretty good read. The author, Robert Knecht should be given credit for describing these wars with as much clarity as he did. He succinctly covers each of the eight wars and numerous historical figures. This conflict encompassed the reign of several French monarchs. Keeping track of these individuals is challenging given that some had multiple names. For example, Henri de Navarre later becomes Henry IV but he is referenced by both names depending on the time period being discussed.The book moves through each war in succession and the narrative is supported by multiple black and white illustrations. The book also includes color paintings of significant events, such as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. It has ten 2D tactical maps which provide a clear depiction of troop movements or strategic presence. For example, the map of “French Security Towns” does a very good job of illustrating the complexity of this conflict. Various treaties gave the Huguenots control of certain towns at different times. This particular map, which is a collection of colored dots, provides a great visual to drive home that point.Bottom Line: The narrative can be slightly confusing at times. That said, this is a great reference which can be used in conjunction with other, more extensive works on this subject.

Clear & succinct account of a turbulent time in French & European history , well told by an expert in the period.

What a confusing time this was in France. The book serves its purpose of explaining what was going on without going into the subject as deeply as I would have liked. That is the Osprey format and the author fulfills their purpose.

book provides only an overview but is a good guide to the period

Excellent

Had only a PAGE on the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacres, whilst Holt had twenty. Knecht's work published by Seminar Studies is ten times better, this book was no good for me as a student.