Thank God for the English Reformation: 1 Jan 1515--Francis the First Ascends to the French Throne

1 Jan 1515: Francis the First Ascends to the French Throne

For context on the Book of Common Prayer (1552 BCP...the 1549 BCP was forever changed and is irrelevant) and other reformational developments, it is important to remember that the Holy Roman Empire was in crisis.[i] Two key players were Charles V and Francis 1. We bring these discursive observations about Charles V, the Imperial Emperor, and Francis 1, King of France. (Francis 1 above and Charles V below).

Charles V had waged numerous wars over a forty year period. He was slightly built, athletic, and directed many combat scenarios, “well armored and mounted on a white horse.”[ii] He crafted thousands of state letters. Many still survive. He was a man who was diligent and passionate for the affairs of state. The extent of his Spanish holdings, vast and wide, particularly in the east, meant “exposure and vulnerability,” especially with the conquest-minded, Islamist Turks.

The encircled French, on the other hand, had advantages of centrality and interior lines of communication. In relation to the Holy Roman Empire, the French and the east “proved to be disastrous for the Holy Roman Empire itself, which now entered a period of severe crisis.”[iii]

The imperial election of 1519 was critical. Prior to the death of Maximilian on January 12, 1519, maneuvers to influence the Imperial election were under way. Aristotle did say (in essence), “Humans were socio-political animals.”

We flashback to January 1, 1515, the twenty-one-year-old Francis I ascended to the French throne. Spitz tells us he was a handsome, proud, somewhat vain, free-spending Renaissance king who generously supported humanists, artists, and pleasing women at his magnificent court. "A court without beautiful women," said the king, "is like a spring without roses."[iv] We would add that a 21-year old on the throne was most premature.

From 1517 to 1519, Francis 1 sought to countermand the Hapsburg political interests and to influence the votes of seven electors. The Archbishop Richard of Trier committed himself to Francis 1. Frederick the Wise of Saxony followed an independent course. However, “the other five electors took fantastic bribes from both sides.”[v]

According to Spitz:

Pope Leo X favored the French king--in line with the Medici policy and out of fear of the Spaniards. He used his influence, promising a cardinal's hat and appointment as permanent papal legate to the archbishop of Mainz...if he voted correctly. Francis promised to make Joachim I of Brandenburg his regent for all Germany.

Both Leo and Francis would have preferred any German prince to Charles, but the only likely candidate was Luther's patron, Elector Frederick the Wise.

Frederick--Luther's patron--realized that his family and Electoral Saxony lacked the resources in men and money to keep peace in the empire. Pope Leo's agents reported their suspicion that the electors were taking French gold but would not choose a French king. Then just before the election, Frederick came out forcefully for Charles I of Spain.

On June 28, 1519, the electors choose Charles by a unanimous vote. The grandson of the popular Maximilian had been chosen. To the great rejoicing of all the Germans and as one wag had it, the Hapsburg eagle had soared above the Gallic cock. On October 22, 1520, Charles rode into Aachen on a beautiful stallion for his coronation.

Charles ultimately put the inefficaceous imperial ban on Luther.

Calvin would write his dedicatory letter (attached to Commentary on 1st Peter) to Francis as he sought to bring light, truth and reform to his native land of France.

Both men, Francis 1 and Charles V, would oppose the reformers as did Henry VIII in England. Fortunately, Charles V chose not to fight on two fronts, leaving Luther alone while he concentrated on the Islamists to the east.

France and Spain would ultimately fall to Romanism.

England, by God's grace, became a Protestant and Reformed nation. Thank God the Spanish were repulsed in the Channel, 1588. Thank God the plot of Queen Mary of Scots was defanged, although the decapitation was over-the-top.

Thank God for the Reformation in Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, the Netherlands, England and the parts of it that survived in France. We salute the Catholic Churches of the Reformation--Lutheran, Reformed and (classical) Anglican.
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[i] Lewis Spitz, Reformation and Renaissance, Vol.2 (St. Louis: Concordia Press, 1971), 359.
[ii] Lewis Spitz, op.cit.,359.
[iii] Lewis Spitz, op.cit., 359
[iv] Lewis Spitz, op.cit., 359
[v] Lewis Spitz, op.cit., 359