midsixteenth
Midsixteenth is a term sometimes used to denote the approximate middle point of the 16th century, generally referring to the period between 1545 and 1555. This decade falls within a period of significant religious, political, and social upheaval across Europe. The Protestant Reformation was well underway, with various reforms and counter-reformations shaping the religious landscape. In England, the reign of Edward VI saw further Protestant reforms, followed by the Catholic restoration under Mary I. France was experiencing the early stages of the French Wars of Religion, a series of brutal conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots.
Politically, the Holy Roman Empire was grappling with the aftermath of the Schmalkaldic War and the Peace