Each of the leagues discussed in the following sections was involved in conflicts concerning religious differences, either Catholic versus Protestant, one Protestant sect against another, or Christian versus Muslim.
Handbook to Life in Renaissance Europe
Formed in 1508 with the ostensible purpose of controlling the Turkish threat, the League of Cambrai consisted of the kings of France, England, Spain, and Bohemia/Hungary; the Holy Roman Emperor; the pope; the marquis of Mantua; and the duke of Ferrara. Their secret agenda, however, was to seize the mainland territory of Venice. Although they were successful in 1509 at the Battle of Agnadello, the league dissolved in 1510 because of conflict among its members. Within eight years, Venice regained most of its lost territory.
Catholic League (French Holy League):
Militant Catholics organized in France in 1576, led by the duke of Guise, with the aim of resisting Protestant advancement. In 1584 this group narrowed its focus to oppose Henry IV as the heir to the throne, and the duke was murdered.
Catholic League of Nuremberg:
This association of German Catholic princes was formed in 1538 in response to the Schmalkaldic League (discussed later).
Holy Leagues:
There were four associations known as the Holy League or simply “the League” between 1495 and 1571, in addition to the French Catholic League. The 1495 Holy League, or Holy League of Venice, consisted of Venice, Milan, the emperor, the pope, and the king of Spain, formed for the purpose of forcing Charles VIII out of Italy. The main Holy League, usually referred to without a date although it was formed in 1511, consisted of the kings of England and Spain, the pope, and the republic of Venice. The emperor allied himself with this group in 1512 after its hostile stance against France became clear. The 1538 Holy League—the pope, the emperor, and Venice—joined to fight the Turks and the Barbary pirates. The 1571 League of the pope, the king of Spain, and Venice was formed for the same purpose. Although not called a “Holy” League, the antiimperial League of Cognac (1526) included the pope, along with the duke of Milan, the republic of Venice, and the kings of France and England.
Charles V responded to the threats of this League by sacking Rome in 1527.
Schmalkaldic League:
In 1531, several Protestant towns and states joined together under the leadership of Johann Friedrich I, elector of Saxony (1503-54), and Philip of Hesse (1504-67) to oppose Charles V and his Catholic troops.
Swabian League:
The Swabian League was a confederation of several cities in the southern part of present-day Germany created in 1488 to assure peace in their immediate territory. Gradually it was enlarged to include Bayreuth, Baden, and all of Bavaria. In 1534 the league was broken up as a result of disagreements stemming from the Protestant Reformation.
World History
