Politics During the Renaissance and Reformation

France was extremely involved in Europe during the times of the Renaissance and Reformation. France was a main player in the Hundred Years' War with England (ca 1337 - 1453). When the French king, Charles IV, died heir less, his closest relative was sitting upon the throne of England. As the French and English were rivals, the French barons excluded Edward III (of England) and passed the throne to Philip VI of Valois. English made a large push at the beginning of the war but eventually France won it all back and was the victor in the War. With France's victory in the Hundred Years' War, came strong nationalism and France's emergence onto the scene as a European power. France was also deeply involved in the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism. During the Babylonian Captivity (1309 - 1376) the popes lived in Avignon in France as a result of pressure from Philip the Fair. The papacy was moved back to Rome with Pope Gregory XI and when his successor, Urban VI, lost favor with the cardinals they slipped away to Avignon, declared Urban VI's election invalid, and elected a new pope in Clement VII. This came to be known as the Great Schism in the church as now there were two popes, one ruling from Italy, and the other ruling from France.

After the Hundred Years' War, France had a long road to recovery, which was initiated by Charles VII. Charles made many beneficial reforms including creating the first royal army, recognizing the royal council and giving increased influence to the middle class men, strengthening royal finances through taxes on salt (gabelle) and land (taille), and also by publishing the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges which asserted the superiority of a general council over the papacy by giving the French crown control over appointing bishops. Charles' son, Louis XII was also able to unite the majority of France through his exploits. He invaded Burgundy after the death of its duke, Charles Bold, gained the counties of Anjou, Bar, Maine, and Provence with the extinction of the house of Anjou, and added Brittany with his marriage to Anne of Brittany. Louis XII also signed the Concordat of Bologna asserting the superiority of a general council over the papacy and Louis approved the pope's right to receive the first year's income of new bishops. Louis also gained control over the appointment and policies of church officials in his kingdom.

France also experienced much religious turmoil as the influence of the French Huguenots increased. This religious turmoil began with the weak leadership of Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. Their mother, Catherine de' Medici had much influence and wielded it in a manipulative manner. She wanted civil and religious peace and also believed that two religions could not exist together peacefully. Catherine decided to marry her daughter, Margaret of Valois, to a protestant, Henry of Navarre, which was a mask of reconciliation between Catholics and Huguenots. On St. Bartholomew's Day (August 24, 1572) she ordered a massacre of all the Huguenots the night before the wedding. This incident became known as the St. Batholomew's Day massacre. From this arose the War of Three Henry's as Henry of Navarre went to war against King Henry III and Henry of Guise. After both Henry of Guise and King Henry III died in this war, Henry of Navarre rose to the throne as King Henry IV. Once upon the throne he converted to Catholic, famously stating that, "Paris is worth a mass". He also issued the Edict of Nantes which granted religious freedom to all Catholics and Huguenots in France creating internal peace in France.

France also had some influence in the Thirty Years' War. At the time, the French foreign policy was based on containing the powerful Habsburgs. In the final two stages of the war, King Louis XIII helped the Protestants win the war against the Habsburgs to allow religious freedom in Germany.