Christian History Timeline: The French Wars of Religion
1555 Peace of Augsburg in Germany allows rulers to choose religion for their region
1555 First Protestant Church in Paris organized in a home
1556 Philip II named king of Spain
1558 Elizabeth I becomes queen of England
1559 First national synod of Reformed Churches of France
1559 John Calvin made a citizen of Geneva
1560 Protestant Conspiracy of Amboise to kidnap king of France fails
1561 anti-Protestant edict begins to drive refugees from France
1562–1563 First War
1562 Forces of Duke of Guise massacre Protestants at Vassy
1563 Treaty of Amboise ends First War
1563 Council of Trent closes
1564 Calvin dies
1567–1568 Second War
1568–1570 Third War
1568 Treaty of Longjumeau ends Second War
1569 Peace of St. Germain ends Third War
1572–1573 Fourth War
1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
1574 Truce ends Fourth War
1574 Charles IX (right) dies; Henri III (left) becomes king of France
1576 Fifth War
1576 pro-Protestant Peace of Monsieur signed
1576 Militant Catholic League forms
1577 Sixth War
1577 Sixth War ended by slightly restrictive Peace of Bergerac
1580 Seventh War
1580 Treaty of Nerac and Peace of Fleix end Seventh War
1584 Duke of Anjou dies; Henri of Navarre becomes heir to French throne
1588 Henri III forced to surrender to Guises and Catholic League
1588 English navy defeats Spanish Armada
1589 Henri III stabbed, names Henri of Navarre his successor
1589 Catherine de Médicis dies
1593 Henri IV converts to Catholicism
1598 Edict of Nantes returns civil and religious freedom to Protestants
By the Editors
[Christian History originally published this article in Christian History Issue #71 in 2001]
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