During the Reformation, were the religious leaders in control in the political realm?

Question

Were they combined? Or were they totally separate?

Answer 1

Yes and no.

Many leading political figures were also religious leaders. For example King Henry VIII's prime ministers were mostly Cardinals of Bishops, as were the leading ministers of the French kings.

Technically, political power was in the hands of the secular government, but religious leaders held positions of great influence.

This influence was not limited to Roman Catholic clergy. John Knox, a leading Calvinist, dominated the government of Scotland and almost literally drove Mary Stewart from her throne. Likewise, John Calvin himself was virtual dictator of Geneva and most of Switzerland. Both were quite active in persecuting both individual Catholics, but also oposing the political power or the Roman Church and Catholic Monarchs.

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Answer 2

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