The English Bill Of Rights

The Edict of Nantes

In April 1598 Henry IV (himself a former Protestant who had converted to Catholicism in order to ensure its control over the entire country) has issued the Edict of Nantes [see wars of religion]. It was not motivated by faith in the tolerance for (a principle in which neither Catholics nor Protestants at the time thought), but for some recognition that the settlement should be reached with the Calvinists (or Huguenots), unless further civil war have been avoided. Most importantly, it has appointed some 150 places of refuge, of which 66 were places for the security of the Protestant garrison troops are paid from the royal funds. La Rochelle and Montauban were the most famous. This meant that Protestantism is a kind of state within a state.

This situation is unlikely to last. There was sporadic fighting in 1615 (accompanied by the distance from the sporadic atrocities on both sides), culminating in the siege and conquest of Richelieu, La Rochelle, after which the world Ales in 1629, which ended the places for security and independence of the military-Calvinists though without much effect on their number. In 1680-ies repression has been intensified, culminating in 1685 in dragonady. On October 17, 1685 Louis XIV issued the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the Edict of Nantes formally, and makes even the practice of the Protestant religion in private homes illegally. At least, 200, 000 Huguenots fled the country, most of the other match in appearance, but kept underground Protestant tradition.

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes

Autumn (1628) La Rochelle Richelieu Army and peace Ale (1629) marked the end of Huguenot political privileges. Since 1665, Louis XIV, was persuaded by his Roman Catholic advisers to embark on policies in pursuit of Protestants. In a series of edicts that narrowly interpreted the ...