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Holy Leagues Of The 16th Century
Part 4: 1565 - 84

 More of this Feature
• 1: Introduction & 1495
• 2: 1510-13, Santa Junta
• 3: 1538-40, 1571-73
 
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• Wars of Religion
 
Holy Leagues of 1565 - 84 (otherwise known as Catholic Leagues)
A multitude of localised leagues created by Catholics during the first half of the French Wars of Religion, in order to coordinate defence and resistance. By 1562 religious differences, aristocratic rivalry and a weak monarchy had created, often violent, tensions throughout France, but events in the first quarter of that year plunged the country into bitter war. The January Edict granted Protestantism legal rights and allowances, which included places to worship, and the authorisation of official assemblies. This edict was extremely unpopular with much of the Catholic population, who feared that France would become officially Protestant, while believers of the latter were afraid of being crushed by the former. Several key incidents in the March of 1562, including the Massacre of Vassy, prompted war; this conflict continued in a series of bloody waves until 1598.

The many Holy Leagues founded during the period 1565 - 84 both foreshadowed, and were largely replaced by, The Catholic League, a country wide alliance of Catholics which was initially formed by aristocracy in 1576, before reemerging as a more socially diverse and militant organisation in 1584. It went on to play a major role in French politics for the next decade. The Catholic League is also sometimes referred to as the 'Holy League', but the first name is the dominant one in modern historiography.

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For Citation And Footnotes
Title: Holy Leagues of the 16th Century
Author: Robert Wilde
Date: 2001

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