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The Fifth War of Religion 1575-1576;
Catholic Leaders;  Henry III, [Henry of Anjou] and Henry, Duke of Guise.
Protestant Leaders;  Henry of Navarre, Henry, Prince of Condé and Duke John Casimir.
Politique Leaders;  The Duke of Alençon, Marshal Damville Montmorency and Thoré Montmorency.

There were now three main factions in France - the Huguenots led by Henry of Navarre, the ardent Catholics, led by the Guise family and a middle-group, the 'Politiques', a group of moderate Catholics shocked by the extreme Catholic's actions. Amongst the leaders of this group were members of the Montmorency family, rivals of the Guise family. The 'Politiques' would later be led by Charles IX's brother, the Duke of Alençon.
Fighting continued across large parts of France even after the end of the Fourth War, particularly along the Rhône where Huguenot leader Montbrun was active. The court made an unsuccessful attempt to put a Royal garrison into La Rochelle despite having agreed not to.
Charles IX was unwell and expected to die during 1573 however, he recovered, surviving into 1574. Henry of Anjou had been elected King of Poland, and left for Poland at the start of 1574.
The youngest brother, the Duke of Alençon was a virtual prisoner at the court at St.Germain, where Henry of Navarre and the Prince of Condé were also held, having been captured and forcibly converted after the St. Bartholomew's Eve Massacre.
Huguenots and the Politiques agreed to attempt an uprising in March 1574, Alençon and Navarre were to escape from the court and go to Sedan, but Alençon revealed the plot. The court moved to Vincennes where a second escape attempt also failed but, the Prince of Condé did managed to escape during this disturbance, reaching Strasbourg. Alençon named of many of his supporters.
The Prince of Condé attempted to rally support for the Huguenots from Strasbourg.

In March, the Huguenots tried to seize control of Normandy, St. Lo was occupied and Carentan captured. The Court sent 5,000 men into Normandy and the leader, Count Montgomery was captured at Domfront and executed in June 1574.
On 30 May 1574 Charles IX died, Catherine de Medici made herself the regent for Henry of Anjou, and messengers sent to summon him from Poland. Henry abandoned Poland but his journey stalled when he reached Italy, he didn't reach Lyons until September.
Fighting continued, meanwhile, in June the town of Livron was besieged but its Huguenot garrison fought off the attack. The siege of Lusignan, began in September, persisted into 1574.
It was clear that Henry intended to continue persecution of the Huguenots. In a proclamation in September he announced a pardon for those who had borne arms against the King, or had left the country without permission, as long as they laid down their arms and returned home. Religion was not mentioned but a proclamation in October offered freedom of conscience but Huguenots would not be free to worship in their own way. He continued to hire Swiss and German mercenaries. The fighting continued, the town of Le Pouzin falling, after a siege, in mid October 1574.

The Huguenots response was to form a semi-independent state in the southern France. Henry, Prince of Condé was appointed Governor-General and Protector while Marshal Damville was recognised as Governor and Protector in Languedoc. This was formalised at a meeting of the States of Languedoc in November.
Although there was fighting throughout 1574 the Fifth War of Religion is generally considered to have started in 1575. Henry made his escape from Avignon in January, taking part in the second, unsuccessful, siege of Livron on the way, before reaching Rheims, where he was crowned on 13 February.
Henry's coronation was followed by an attempt to avoid war but, despite concessions the gap between King and Huguenots was too wide. Negotiations were broken off.
The Huguenots took a number of towns in Lyonnais during the summer. In Germany Condé reached an agreement with Duke John Casimir to raise an army. Casimir provided 8,000 reiters and 8,000 Swiss foot, the Huguenots agreed Damville would bring 12,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry from Languedoc.
In September Alençon escaped from court to Dreux and began to gather a small army around himself. Alençon, now heir to the throne, was appointed leader by the Huguenots.
In early October part of Casimir's army, under Thoré Montmorency tried to join up with Damville Montmorency but was intercepted and defeated by Henry of Guise at Dormans. Thoré and a number of his followers escaped, eventually joining Alençon to the south-west of Paris.

In November, Catherine de Medici attempted to agree terms with her son, Alençon, but, Condé and Casimir refused to accept the terms and the agreement collapsed.
By the end of 1575 Casimir's army was between 21-25,0000 strong, including; 10,000 cavalry, 6,000 Swiss infantry, 2,000 lansquenets and 3,000 French arquebusiers. In January 1576 he crossed the Meuse and began a march across France marked by burning and looting. The Abbey of Citeaux was looted as was Nuits. Henry III raised two armies, commanding one himself while the Duke of Mayenne commanded the other, however, the two Royal armies were only able to shadow the Germans as they advanced.
In February Henry of Navarre escaped from court, renouncing his conversion and resuming Protestant worship. He returned to the south-west and began to raise an army. By spring 1576 Casimir had united with Alençon, the combined army about 30,000 men. Henry III was running out of money, and was forced into peace negotiations.

Negotiations resulted in the Edict of Beaulieu in May. Huguenots were granted religious freedom across all of France, apart from Paris, the Court and the lands of any nobleman who objected. The edict granted them eight security towns in Languedoc, Guyenne, Dauphiné and Provence.
Huguenot leaders received generous rewards, some might say bribes. Henry III’s brother Alençon was made Duc d’Anjou and given Berry and Touraine. Condé was restored as governor of Picardy and Damville as governor of Languedoc. Anjou remained loyal to his brother for the rest of his life.
The Edict of Beaulieu was unpopular amongst a large part of Catholic population. Paris refused to celebrate the news. Henry, Duke of Guise, began to form the Holy or Catholic League with the support of Philip II of Spain.

Dutch Revolt 1574-1576

In November 1573, Fadrique had laid siege to Leiden. Spanish troops defeated a relief force led by Orange's brothers Louis and Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg at Mookerheyde. In May 1574, the polders around Leiden were flooded and a Sea Beggar fleet managed to lift the siege in October. In summer of 1575, Requesens ordered Cristobal de Mondragon to attack Zierikzee, which surrendered in July 1576 but, the Spanish troops, unpaid for two years, mutinied and left the city. The mutineers marched on Brussels, on the way sacking the city of Aalst.
The loyal provinces had backed the royal government against the Rebellion but the Duke of Aerschot, stadtholder of Flanders, allowed the States-General to start peace negotiations with the States of Holland and Zeeland. All agreed that Spanish troops should be withdrawn. There was also agreement on the suspension of the bans against heresy and freedom of conscience.

Description

The Fifth War of Religion 1575-1576;
Catholic Leaders;  Henry III, [Henry of Anjou] and Henry, Duke of Guise.
Protestant Leaders;  Henry of Navarre, Henry, Prince of Condé and Duke John Casimir.
Politique Leaders;  The Duke of Alençon, Marshal Damville Montmorency and Thoré Montmorency.

There were now three main factions in France - the Huguenots led by Henry of Navarre, the ardent Catholics, led by the Guise family and a middle-group, the 'Politiques', a group of moderate Catholics shocked by the extreme Catholic's actions. Amongst the leaders of this group were members of the Montmorency family, rivals of the Guise family. The 'Politiques' would later be led by Charles IX's brother, the Duke of Alençon.
Fighting continued across large parts of France even after the end of the Fourth War, particularly along the Rhône where Huguenot leader Montbrun was active. The court made an unsuccessful attempt to put a Royal garrison into La Rochelle despite having agreed not to.
Charles IX was unwell and expected to die during 1573 however, he recovered, surviving into 1574. Henry of Anjou had been elected King of Poland, and left for Poland at the start of 1574.
The youngest brother, the Duke of Alençon was a virtual prisoner at the court at St.Germain, where Henry of Navarre and the Prince of Condé were also held, having been captured and forcibly converted after the St. Bartholomew's Eve Massacre.
Huguenots and the Politiques agreed to attempt an uprising in March 1574, Alençon and Navarre were to escape from the court and go to Sedan, but Alençon revealed the plot. The court moved to Vincennes where a second escape attempt also failed but, the Prince of Condé did managed to escape during this disturbance, reaching Strasbourg. Alençon named of many of his supporters.
The Prince of Condé attempted to rally support for the Huguenots from Strasbourg.

In March, the Huguenots tried to seize control of Normandy, St. Lo was occupied and Carentan captured. The Court sent 5,000 men into Normandy and the leader, Count Montgomery was captured at Domfront and executed in June 1574.
On 30 May 1574 Charles IX died, Catherine de Medici made herself the regent for Henry of Anjou, and messengers sent to summon him from Poland. Henry abandoned Poland but his journey stalled when he reached Italy, he didn't reach Lyons until September.
Fighting continued, meanwhile, in June the town of Livron was besieged but its Huguenot garrison fought off the attack. The siege of Lusignan, began in September, persisted into 1574.
It was clear that Henry intended to continue persecution of the Huguenots. In a proclamation in September he announced a pardon for those who had borne arms against the King, or had left the country without permission, as long as they laid down their arms and returned home. Religion was not mentioned but a proclamation in October offered freedom of conscience but Huguenots would not be free to worship in their own way. He continued to hire Swiss and German mercenaries. The fighting continued, the town of Le Pouzin falling, after a siege, in mid October 1574.

The Huguenots response was to form a semi-independent state in the southern France. Henry, Prince of Condé was appointed Governor-General and Protector while Marshal Damville was recognised as Governor and Protector in Languedoc. This was formalised at a meeting of the States of Languedoc in November.
Although there was fighting throughout 1574 the Fifth War of Religion is generally considered to have started in 1575. Henry made his escape from Avignon in January, taking part in the second, unsuccessful, siege of Livron on the way, before reaching Rheims, where he was crowned on 13 February.
Henry's coronation was followed by an attempt to avoid war but, despite concessions the gap between King and Huguenots was too wide. Negotiations were broken off.
The Huguenots took a number of towns in Lyonnais during the summer. In Germany Condé reached an agreement with Duke John Casimir to raise an army. Casimir provided 8,000 reiters and 8,000 Swiss foot, the Huguenots agreed Damville would bring 12,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry from Languedoc.
In September Alençon escaped from court to Dreux and began to gather a small army around himself. Alençon, now heir to the throne, was appointed leader by the Huguenots.
In early October part of Casimir's army, under Thoré Montmorency tried to join up with Damville Montmorency but was intercepted and defeated by Henry of Guise at Dormans. Thoré and a number of his followers escaped, eventually joining Alençon to the south-west of Paris.

In November, Catherine de Medici attempted to agree terms with her son, Alençon, but, Condé and Casimir refused to accept the terms and the agreement collapsed.
By the end of 1575 Casimir's army was between 21-25,0000 strong, including; 10,000 cavalry, 6,000 Swiss infantry, 2,000 lansquenets and 3,000 French arquebusiers. In January 1576 he crossed the Meuse and began a march across France marked by burning and looting. The Abbey of Citeaux was looted as was Nuits. Henry III raised two armies, commanding one himself while the Duke of Mayenne commanded the other, however, the two Royal armies were only able to shadow the Germans as they advanced.
In February Henry of Navarre escaped from court, renouncing his conversion and resuming Protestant worship. He returned to the south-west and began to raise an army. By spring 1576 Casimir had united with Alençon, the combined army about 30,000 men. Henry III was running out of money, and was forced into peace negotiations.

Negotiations resulted in the Edict of Beaulieu in May. Huguenots were granted religious freedom across all of France, apart from Paris, the Court and the lands of any nobleman who objected. The edict granted them eight security towns in Languedoc, Guyenne, Dauphiné and Provence.
Huguenot leaders received generous rewards, some might say bribes. Henry III’s brother Alençon was made Duc d’Anjou and given Berry and Touraine. Condé was restored as governor of Picardy and Damville as governor of Languedoc. Anjou remained loyal to his brother for the rest of his life.
The Edict of Beaulieu was unpopular amongst a large part of Catholic population. Paris refused to celebrate the news. Henry, Duke of Guise, began to form the Holy or Catholic League with the support of Philip II of Spain.

Dutch Revolt 1574-1576

In November 1573, Fadrique had laid siege to Leiden. Spanish troops defeated a relief force led by Orange's brothers Louis and Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg at Mookerheyde. In May 1574, the polders around Leiden were flooded and a Sea Beggar fleet managed to lift the siege in October. In summer of 1575, Requesens ordered Cristobal de Mondragon to attack Zierikzee, which surrendered in July 1576 but, the Spanish troops, unpaid for two years, mutinied and left the city. The mutineers marched on Brussels, on the way sacking the city of Aalst.
The loyal provinces had backed the royal government against the Rebellion but the Duke of Aerschot, stadtholder of Flanders, allowed the States-General to start peace negotiations with the States of Holland and Zeeland. All agreed that Spanish troops should be withdrawn. There was also agreement on the suspension of the bans against heresy and freedom of conscience.