Overview of European Kingdoms
Unit 3: c. 1450-1750
Kingdom of Spain
Formed in 1469
Key Ideas:
Before 1469
Spain was divided into many kingdoms: Castile, Aragon, Navarre, Portugal (all Christian), Granada (Muslim)
1469
King Ferdinand of Aragon married Queen Isabella of Castile → They united their lands into a (mostly) unified Spain
1478
Ferdinand & Isabella launched the Spanish Inquisition, a program to suppress all non-Catholics
1492
Conquest of Granada: Ferdinand & Isabella conquered the last remaining Muslim Kingdom in Spain (Granada)
1556
King Charles V (ruler of Habsburg Kingdom) retires → His son, Philip II, inherits parts of Spain & Netherlands
1566-1648
Dutch Revolt: Calvinists in Low Countries oppose Philip II's Catholicism → Netherlands (north) gains independence; Belgium (south) remains in Spanish rule
1588
Spanish Armada: Philip II sends navy to England to convert England (which is Protestant) to Catholicism → He fails
Kingdom of France
Formed in 1453
Key Ideas:
1337-1453
Hundred Years' War: England vs France → France won → France started consolidating power after this victory
1516
Concordat of Bologna: Allowed French king to appoint church bishops in exchange for giving revenue to Pope
1559
King Henry II died, so his 3 sons took over and fought for control. One of the sons became King Henry III
1559-1572
Many French Calvinists (Huguenots) were in French countryside → Lots of fights between Catholics & Huguenots
1572
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre: A marriage between a Catholic & Protestant in royal family → Deadly
1589
Henry III died → Henry of Navarre (groom in St. Bartholomew's Day wedding) became King Henry IV
1598
Edict of Nantes: Henry IV allowed Huguenots to practice their religion in 150 French cities
1618-1648
30 Years' War: Cardinal Richelieu was chief advisor to King Louis XIII & helped defeat Catholic Habsburgs (Austria)
1643-1715
Louis XIV's Reign: "Sun King"; built Palace of Versailles; Advisor Jean-Baptiste Colbert increased French size
King Louis XIV, one of the most absolutist French kings
Palace of Versailles, a huge palace built by Louis XIV to demonstrate his glory and power
Kingdom of England
Formed in 10th century
Key Ideas:
1534
King Henry XIV created the Church of England (Anglican Church)
1553-1558
Queen Mary's reign: Was Catholic & persecuted Protestants → Many Protestants exiled in mainland Europe
1558-1603
Queen Elizabeth's reign: Was Protestant → Protestant exilees returned & created Puritan church ("purifying" Anglicanism of its Catholic elements)
1603-1625
James I's reign: Was Catholic & claimed absolute power → Hated parliament
1625-1649
Charles I's reign: Was Catholic; Claimed absolute power → Rarely summoned his majority-Puritan Parliament
1642-1649
English Civil War: Charles I fought Parliament (led by Oliver Cromwell) → Cromwell won & became king → Gave Parliament more power
1660
Stuart Restoration: Cromwell died → Charles II became king & restored King's absolute authority
1685-1688
James II's reign: Was Catholic → Promoted Catholicism in gov & schools
1688-1689
Glorious Revolution:Parliament opposed James II's Catholic policies → Imposed William & Mary as rulers
Holy Roman Empire
Formed in 800
Key Ideas:
Before 1555
Made up of hundreds of small nation-states & very decentralized
1555
Peace of Augsburg: Emperor Charles V allowed each nation-state to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism
1618-1648
Thirty Years' War: A huge war between Catholics & Protestants in the empire
1648
Peace of Westphalia: Allowed each nation-state to choose Catholicism, Lutheranism, or Calvinism
Tsardom of Russia
Formed in 1480
Key Ideas:
Before 1480
Russia was under control of the Mongol Khanate of the Golden Horde
1480
Tsar Ivan III (Ivan the Great) declared independence from Mongols → Established Russian Tsardom
1533-1584
Reign of Ivan IV ("the terrible"): Had imperial expansion but killed a lot of dissidents (including his son)
1606-1613
Time of Troubles: Many monarchs were competing for power
1613
Michael Romanov became tsar, starting the Romanov Dynasty (ending in 1917)
1682-1725
Reign of Peter I ("the great"): Reformed Russia according to Western standards (military, culture, dress, etc.)
1762-1796
Reign of Catherine I ("the great"): Used Enlightenment principles in government → Less strict governance
Catherine II ("the great"), who used Enlightenment principles in governance
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The Winter Palace at St. Petersburg, the official residence of Russian emperors after Peter the Great's reign
