Edict of Nantes

Super Secret Sneaky Peeky Bonus Ep. In the first episode Genese we mention Louis XIII’s birth taking place after the Edict Of Nantes, and this super secret sneaky peeky bonus episode is just that, because it doesn’t deal too much with Versailles, but is interesting enough to warrant its own episode.

Do you hate Huguenots, but you have Huguenot friends?

The Edict was signed into effect in 1598 by Henry IV of France. Henry did a fairly good job unholding it as law until his death in 1610. A little bit of background into why the edict was needed; France was in civil war with its Roman Catholic and Calvinist Protestant citizens. Roman Catholicism was the main religion of France because it was the religion that the Monarch’s used, and the Huguenots were thought of as fakers. Calvinism and Protestantism were still fairly new concepts at this time. The Reformation of the Catholic church by Martin Luther, his 95 Theses, and the birth of Jean Calvin were all less than a century ahead of King Henry’s law. In the Edict itself, there were 4 noteable texts, according to the French Museum of Protestantism. (reliable enough) The first warrant granted 4500 “crowns” per year to pay ministers and worship. Reasons for this are probably because Protestants were murdered, churches burned to the ground etc. See, St Bartholomew's Day Massacre. There were 92 Articles to make the edict “permanent and irrevocable” which works out, not. Warrant numero second guaranteed 150 places of refuge over the course of 8 years. (to bring back everyone who fled the country) And then there are the 56 “secret and specific” articles to appease the country ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It’s a secret, bro While Henry had all the hopes of promoting a “safe” place for his heathen subjects, there were still complex restrictions on how and when a Huguenot may worship. Most towns still only allowed Catholic services All buildings taken from the Catholic church during the civil wars were to be returned Mass still had to be celebrated by all citizens Protestants still had to pay tithes to Catholic Churches (although the church was still a government branch) But for a big part, life as a protestant improved. Freedom of opinion was granted (by the King, Okay) Equal education rights Equal lawful rights Assurance of access to public office positions Freedom to change religion (preferably back to catholicism) Equal access to positions in the court of law All Emigrants were allowed to return without consequence (it’s a traap) Where you could worship was still regulated. Protestants were not permitted to worship at court, or within 5 miles of the capitol. Don’t wanna catch the Calvinism

The only person really working to be sure his laws were being practiced, was Henry IV. He had witnessed what the massacre and fleeing of an entire people had done to his country, and he wasn’t all that enthralled by it.

When his son came into power, with Cardinal Richelieu, the laws were less that enforced, but the real problem is when Louis XIV gets ahold of the country.

Momma’s boy, Louis Dieudonne, kept the edict around until the 1680’s, but let his citizens run rampant from the 60’s until the “irrevocable and permanent” Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685 by the Man himself.

It's worth a mention that England's King, Charles II, was a big fan of Louis XIV's move towards complete and total Catholicism. I used a couple of Podcasts to research this topic, but my favorite coverage was from Today in Church