The First War of Religion was a significant conflict in the series of French Wars of Religion, which lasted from 1562 to 1598. This war, spanning from 1562 to 1563, marked the beginning of a series of conflicts between the Catholic majority and the Protestant Huguenots in France, driven by both religious and political tensions.
The backdrop to the First War of Religion was set by the Edict of January in 1562, issued by King Charles IX under the regency of Catherine de'Medici. This edict allowed Huguenots to practice their faith publicly outside of cities, which was met with resistance from the Catholic establishment, particularly the Guise family, who felt their power and influence threatened.
The conflict ended with the Edict of Amboise in 1563, which attempted to restore peace by allowing the Huguenots limited rights to practice their faith in private and in specific locations. However, this peace was fragile and would soon be broken, leading to subsequent wars in the series.
The First War of Religion set the stage for decades of intermittent warfare, political maneuvering, and religious strife in France. It highlighted the deep divisions within French society and the inability of the monarchy to enforce religious unity or effectively mediate between factions.