Protestant Reformation Terms Flashcards

Protestant Reformation Overview

• Movement in Europe opposing perceived unfair practices of the Catholic Church.
• Led to the formation of various Christian denominations and significant religious conflicts across Europe.

Martin Luther

• A priest who challenged the Catholic Church with his "95 Theses," initiating the Protestant Reformation.
• Founded Lutheranism, which became a major Christian tradition.
• His actions contributed to the onset of the Thirty Years War.

Pope Leo X

• Encouraged the sale of indulgences to fund St. Peter's Basilica construction.
• His policies ignited Martin Luther's protests, ultimately leading to Luther's excommunication.

Charles V

• Archduke of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor who negotiated between Protestant princes and the Catholic Pope.
• Notably defended Martin Luther during the Diet of Worms.

95 Theses

• Document critiquing the corrupt sale of indulgences, asserting that the Bible is the ultimate religious authority.
• Pivotal in sparking the Reformation and contributing to the schism within Christianity.

Heretic

• Defined as an individual who opposes the official beliefs of the Church.
• Their dissent led to the emergence of new religious movements.

Diet of Worms

• Assembly that judged Martin Luther; he was convicted of heresy.
• Marked the formal beginning of Lutheranism.

Geneva

• Central location for John Calvin's reforms; established grounds for Presbyterianism.
• Known for its strict theocratic governance.

John Calvin

• French theologian who developed the doctrine of predestination and founded Calvinism.
• His ideas significantly shaped the direction of Protestantism and contributed to the rise of Presbyterianism.

Huguenots

• French Protestants influenced by Calvinism, faced persecution leading to their emigration.
• Their struggles ignited the French Wars of Religion lasting 35 years.

Henry of Navarre (Henry IV)

• Issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted religious freedom to Huguenots.
• Played a key role in resolving conflicts during the Wars of Religion in France.

Catherine de Medici

• Queen consort who dealt with civil unrest due to religious extremism, deeply affecting her reign.
• Often blamed for exacerbating tensions that led to religious wars.

Cardinal Richelieu

• Chief minister to King Louis XIII, known for his staunch Catholic support and political maneuvers.
• Revoked the Edict of Nantes and took strong action against Huguenots, reinforcing royal absolutism.

Edict of Nantes

• Legislation that granted rights to Calvinist Protestants (Huguenots) in France.
• Important step toward religious tolerance in a predominantly Catholic nation.

Peace Treaty of Westphalia

• The agreement that concluded the Thirty Years War.
• Recognized the independence of Switzerland and the Netherlands from Austria and Spain, respectively.

Henry VIII

• King of England whose desire for a male heir led him to create the Anglican Church after being denied a divorce.
• Established a new religious institution that retained Catholic traditions while allowing divorce, significantly impacting the Reformation.

Catherine of Aragon

• Henry VIII's first wife, a devout Catholic who refused to annul their marriage.
• Mother to Mary Tudor, whose reign also influenced the religious climate.

Anne Boleyn

• Henry VIII's second wife, a Protestant whose marriage led to significant historical changes.
• Executed on various charges, she bore Elizabeth I, later a pivotal queen in English history.