Religion

Question 1

Reformers of the Church

Answer 1

John of Avila:

• Popular preacher
• Helped the Poor and Promoted religious education among the Laity.
• Arrested by Inquisition 1531, released 1533.

Ignatius Loyola:

• Hermit, spent time in prayer.
• Looked after sick and poor.
• Questioned by inquisition for suspected Illuminist Ideas.
• Fled to Paris and founded Society of Jesus.

Teresa of Jesus:

• Spanish Mystic.
• Emphasised Meditation and Prayer.
• Reformed Carmelite Order.

Question 2

Work of Cardinal Francisco Ximénez De Cisneros

Answer 2

• Work started in I&F reign.
• Cisneros founded University of Alcalá, opened in 1508 for training of Clergy.
• Became important centre of learning in Charles’ reign.
• Printing press set up and produced a number of religious texts.
• Polygot Bible produced in 1522 (Bible with various language versions side by side).
• Improvements in intellectual standards of Bishops and Clergy meant they could take important roles in councils of the Church.

Question 3

Suppression of Heretics

Answer 3

Little success in defending Catholicism from Protestantism in HRE, wanted to suppress these Heretical views in Spain.
2 groups associated with Heretical Protestant views: Illuminists and Erasmists.

Illuminists:

• Believed they had direct contact with God.
• Believed good works were useless.
• Easily dealt with by Inquisition, persecuted any members of the group.

Erasmists:

• Followers of Desiderius Erasmus.
• Promoted idea of reformed church: through learning, private prayer and meditation.
• Gained many influential supporters, ideas welcomed in Spain.

Charles wanted to eradicate anything not Catholic and had Inquisition persecute supporters of Erasmus.

Question 4

Policy Towards Moriscos

Answer 4

-By 1502, all Mudéjars had either become christians or left.
In Aragon, many had been forcibly converted during the Germania Revolt.

• In 1525, those not yet converted were given same choice to either convert or leave.
• In 1526 attempts were made to completely remove Moorish civilisation in Granada, the use of Arabic, wearing Moorish dress and the performance of the traditional dance (Zambra).
• Attempts to get local Clergy to improve Christian education of the Moriscos.
• Charles suspended these policies in return for a large subsidy paid by the Moriscos in Granada.

Question 5

Relations with Pope

Answer 5

• Relations with the Pope were poor throughout Charles’ reign.
• Pope feared Charles or French becoming too powerful in Italy. Allied with both when the opposing side got too powerful.
• Relations particularly bad when Charles’ troops sacked Rome in 1527.
• Also conflict over reform of Catholic Church. Charles wanted General Council of the Church to be held to introduce reforms. However, he was unable to persuade the Pope to hold a council. First meeting wasn’t until 1545.