The Hapsburg Dilema

At the beginning of the 1500’s France was a Protestant nation, which had a mediocre army and medium economy. The French Protestants were called Huguenots. France was military and economically weaker than Catholic Spain. The French resented being under Spanish influence and this resentment led to a series of wars and confrontations between the two countries.

The English were largely an isolated community who were busy consolidating their power while the French and Spanish fought for control of northern Italy. The English were Anglican and would be sympathetic towards their fellow Protestants in Eur

Two major battles were fought between the French and the Spanish but France was defeated in both battles. The French were easily beaten back by the Spanish but Charles the 5th had to worry about the Ottoman presence in Africa and Eastern Europe. Ottoman ships were threatening the Hapsburg-possessed island of Sardinia. The Ottoman armies were directly threatening Vienna, Austria. Another problem that aroused for Charles the 5th was that the Reformation had spilt MittleEuropa causing warfare between the Protestant German princes and the Catholics to the south. Charles was able to swiftly crush the rebellion in Mittleuropa at the battle of Muhlberg. The French invaded Mittleuropa to rescue the Protestants therefore helping the German princes survive Spanish aggression. Charles the 5th signed the treaty of Augsburg and the treaty of Cambresis therefore ending all major wars amongst the Europeans. Charles the 5th abdicated his throne giving Spain to his grandson Philip the 2nd and Austria to Ferdinand the 1st. The Hapsburg Empire kept on fighting Turkey until it finally defeated and made peace with the Turks.

The essay will now be discussing events and wars which shaped European history from the 1500’s to 1650.

ope when the drums of war would begin to beat.

Some topics in this essay:
Hapsburg Empire, Catholic France, Netherlands Philip, Treaty Westphalia, Soviet Union, Protestants Europe, Muhlberg French, English Dutch, Empire Dutch, France French, hapsburg empire, charles 5th, philip 2nd, holy roman emperor, german princes, northern italy, soviet union, holy roman, declared war, roman emperor, religious political, colonies south america, joined anti-hapsburg alliance,