What if France was Protestant?

The question is, what if the dominant religion in France was the Protestant faith instead of the Catholic faith? I'm thinking that it might require a stronger English influence on the French and might lead to better relations with England which in turn might lead to New France and maybe a few other places being French colonies for a longer amount of time due to better relations with England but that is just my opinion. What do you think history would look like if France was a Protestant nation?
 
The thirty years war would be totally different. IOTL the French were in a strange situation, realpolitik meant that the had to antagonise Austria, but Austria was catholic. As a result France only intervened at the end of the war because they feared a strenghtend Austria.
If France is protestant it would help the German protestants much earlier (maybe even from the start) to prevent them from falling to the evil catholics (and if this results in a weakend Austria even better). This will likely end the war sooner and in a decisive defeat of Austria, it is even possible that the holy roman empire of german nation will be dissolved.
 
The question should be since when?Depending on the percentages you could have a major civil war and besides, the Spaniards would intervene.​
and another thing, we really need an English major influence to make a protestant France?
 
When/how France goes Protestant would make a big difference; the easiest option is just to have Henri IV decide not to convert to Catholicism after the Wars of Religion.

My first inclination is to say that it would take a while for there to be major differences from OTL; between the Reformation and the mid-late 17th century France tended to be fairly protestant-aligned in its foreign policy anyway. From a global standpoint, a Protestant France allied with German and English Protestants against the Habsburgs wouldn't be hugely different from a Catholic France allied with German and English Protestants against the Habsburgs.

That's not to say that nothing would change, just that the overall diplomatic situation probably wouldn't be that different until well after my proposed PoD.
 
The thirty years war would be totally different. IOTL the French were in a strange situation, realpolitik meant that the had to antagonise Austria, but Austria was catholic. As a result France only intervened at the end of the war because they feared a strenghtend Austria.
If France is protestant it would help the German protestants much earlier (maybe even from the start) to prevent them from falling to the evil catholics (and if this results in a weakend Austria even better). This will likely end the war sooner and in a decisive defeat of Austria, it is even possible that the holy roman empire of german nation will be dissolved.
France did help the Protestants pretty much from the start of the 30 Years War by providing funding, hiring mercenaries, diplomatic support (such as encouraging Sweden to intervene), and other methods that left them with plausible deniability. Most of the reasons France fought via proxy for the first part of the war (exhaustion from 30+ years of religious civil war) will still be there, though I imagine the French will become directly involved sooner than OTL.

The question should be since when?Depending on the percentages you could have a major civil war and besides, the Spaniards would intervene.​
and another thing, we really need an English major influence to make a protestant France?
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you're not too familiar with the French Wars of Religion.
 
When/how France goes Protestant would make a big difference; the easiest option is just to have Henri IV decide not to convert to Catholicism after the Wars of Religion.

My first inclination is to say that it would take a while for there to be major differences from OTL; between the Reformation and the mid-late 17th century France tended to be fairly protestant-aligned in its foreign policy anyway. From a global standpoint, a Protestant France allied with German and English Protestants against the Habsburgs wouldn't be hugely different from a Catholic France allied with German and English Protestants against the Habsburgs.

That's not to say that nothing would change, just that the overall diplomatic situation probably wouldn't be that different until well after my proposed PoD.

If Bourbon had not coverted, then the French Wars of Religion would have continued with the exception that the anti-royalist and Catholic faction would be at least as strong as the protestant Royalist forces and they would continue to have the support of Spain to boot. \if Bourbon were to prevail it would be after an even longer and bloodier conflict with the Catholic Guise faction. Yes they would most definitely then be very anti-Catholic and very anti Hapsburg. French abilities however would be seriously impaired though after a much longer period of conflict that may even spill over into Germany.

Who knows the Emporer may see just how much damage that such internicine religious warfare can do and take a more conciliatory attitude, especially if the German protestants, bolstered by even a weaker France are able to resist the Emporer's initial efforts more successfully. The German conflict is much shorter ending in say the 1630's instead of well into the 50's and 60's. Perhaps a decade long conflict in their case. Earlier counter-reformation and tolerance on the P-L model in the Empire.
 
If Bourbon had not coverted, then the French Wars of Religion would have continued with the exception that the anti-royalist and Catholic faction would be at least as strong as the protestant Royalist forces and they would continue to have the support of Spain to boot. \if Bourbon were to prevail it would be after an even longer and bloodier conflict with the Catholic Guise faction. Yes they would most definitely then be very anti-Catholic and very anti Hapsburg. French abilities however would be seriously impaired though after a much longer period of conflict that may even spill over into Germany.

Who knows the Emporer may see just how much damage that such internicine religious warfare can do and take a more conciliatory attitude, especially if the German protestants, bolstered by even a weaker France are able to resist the Emporer's initial efforts more successfully. The German conflict is much shorter ending in say the 1630's instead of well into the 50's and 60's. Perhaps a decade long conflict in their case. Earlier counter-reformation and tolerance on the P-L model in the Empire.
The French Wars Religion will definately be longer and bloodier, though considering the fact that Henri IV was still fighting Spain and the Guise faction years after his conversion the difference might not be too massive. France will be even more battered and exhausted, but it already in that state by the end of the Wars of Religion anyway; that one of the reasons they fought the first half of the 30 Years War by proxy. There would also almost certainly be something like an Edict of Nantes for Catholics at the end of the war as an effort at a compromise peace.

A more tolerant Habsburg policy in the HRE might make for interesting butterflies, but I could just as easily see a Protestant victory in France also having the opposite effect. Yhe Habsburgs, feeling threatened by growing Protestant power, become even more determined to make no compromises with the heretics.
 
I don't think the Spanish would need a provocation in the colonies to invade a protestant France. They would just straight up do it. I am not sure if France could really stand up to that invasion, considering their weakened state.
 
There could be a War against Spain over the massacres at Fort Caroline and Matanzas inlet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Caroline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matanzas_Inlet
Those are during the Wars of Religion, so France is just a little distracted at the moment and not to likely to want to declare war on Spain. Also, the Habsburg-Valois War just ended a few years before that, so Spain probably wasn't in the mood to fight yet another war with France just yet. Especially when one considers that the Habsburgs are in the middle of a major war with the Ottoman Empire which wasn't going all that well for them at the time.

Really, neither France nor Spain is going to want a war with the other in the 1560's since they're both already involved in a major conflict (internal or external). It's worth noting that whenever the Habsburgs weren't distracted they did everything they could to meddle in the Wars of Religion, yet France survived and the Protestants managed to secure a pretty favorable compromise peace.
 
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you're not too familiar with the French Wars of Religion.

Sorry, but that kind of response to a question like 'do we really need greater english influence in france for this' make me think the same about you.

Sure, greater english influance in France could ( not even sure ) result in protestant France, but so could a lot of other things.

From the affaire de placards to Henry II position, Conjuration d'amboise to Surprise de Meaux, various tumultes and battles.. etc, there are quite a few PoD which could result in a protestant french king and court. If this happens early enough ( Henry IV is too late, IMO ) then there's a good chance for France to become a majority protestant country.

My favorite PoD is to have the regent and court become protestant by reaction to a botched Guise attempt to kidnap the young king Charles IX in 1561. Moderate catholics and protestant then crush the Ultra-catholics and royal favor ensure that protestant dominate and so most of the mobility and bourgeoisie convert; campaigns will take longer.

No english influance needed.
 
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That´s the reason of the adjective "major". My fault, I have not explained well. Sorry
Sorry if that response seemed a little brusque, it just seemed from your first post that you weren't familiar with the fact that there was a Protestant-Catholic civil war in France that Spain did intervene in.

Also, I'm not quite sure how the OTL Wars of Religion weren't "major" already.

Sorry, but that kind of response to a question like 'do we really need greater english influence in france for this' make me think the same about you.
As I said, it was more the "maybe there will be a civil war" aspect of the post that prompted that comment.
 
Then, I'm the one who is sorry because I misunderstood. My apologies.
No problem.

Anyway, back on topic; assumign we go with the kidnapping of Charles IX in 1561, how long would it take for Protestants to consolidate their position? The definately need to be in a fairly secure position once the Habsburgs finish their latest war with the Ottomans and celebrate by starting a new war with France.
 
No problem.

Anyway, back on topic; assumign we go with the kidnapping of Charles IX in 1561, how long would it take for Protestants to consolidate their position? The definately need to be in a fairly secure position once the Habsburgs finish their latest war with the Ottomans and celebrate by starting a new war with France.

That would be around the same time that the Dutch revolt started, that would draw Spanish attention away (or better in my view, it would draw Spanish attention away from the Netherlands).
 
That would be around the same time that the Dutch revolt started, that would draw Spanish attention away (or better in my view, it would draw Spanish attention away from the Netherlands).
True, but the Dutch Revolt never really occupied Spain's full military might. It's also fairly likely that a Protestant France would be supporting the Dutch considering the ties between Huguenots and the Rebels OTL.
 
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