The Edict Of Nantes Essay, Research Paper

“Edict of Nantes”

Here in America most Americans aren’t very aware of the freedom that has been bestowed upon us. Thousands of men, women, and children died in various wars over the years to protect our basic rights: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. As for myself I know I take that freedom for granted and I know many others have also. If we believe in one God or six gods, it doesn’t matter here in America. You won’t be killed for your religious beliefs unless you’re some crazy activist. Up until the late 1500’s that was the case. If you did not follow the religious beliefs of the King or the Lord of the land you were killed or exiled from the land. In 1598 King Henry IV passed the Edict of Nantes granting religious freedom to the commoners, also known as Huguenots.

Henry IV (1589-161O) was the Protestant king of Navarre who led the Huguenot cause during the French wars of religion. His grandmother was Marguerite de Navarre and his mother Jeanne d’Albret, both educated and remarkably talented women. Henry achieved the French throne through a series of accidents, the last of which was the assassination of Henry III in 1589. It was clear that no Protestant could ever command the allegiance of the mass of French people or peaceful rule in the Catholic capital of Paris. Henry converted to Catholicism, defeated his enemies, and ended the long years of religious warfare.

The Edict of Nantes was the compromise settlement that granted limited toleration for the Huguenots. It was a landmark in the history of religious toleration, though its main features were watered down under Louis Xlll. The Edict was finally rescinded under Louis XIII in 1685. The Edict of Nantes ended the series of religious wars between Catholics and Protestants that ravaged France from 1562 to 1598. During these wars, several ineffective treaties were concluded, embodying privileges for the Huguenots. These “French wars of religion” pitted Calvinist protestants, called Huguenots, against Catholics, who were supported by the king of the Valois dynasty. Each side believed that if France was to become a strong kingdom, only one religion could be permitted within society. The Edict of Nantes included the religious provisions of these treaties and added a number of others.

By the terms of the edict, the Huguenots were granted liberty of conscience throughout France. They were allowed to build churches and hold religious services in specified villages and the suburbs of any city except Episcopal and archiepiscopal cities, royal residences, and within a 5-mile radius of Paris; Huguenot nobles were permitted to hold services in their homes. Followers of the faith were granted civil rights and the right to hold official positions. Four universities or schools (at Montauban, Montpellier, Sedan, and Saumur) were permitted to be Huguenot. A special court, composed of ten Catholics and six Protestants, called the Chambre de l’Edit (Chamber of the Edict) was established for Huguenot protection in the parliament of Paris; subsidiary chambers were established in the provincial parliaments. Huguenot pastors were paid by the government, as were Catholic priests. As a guarantee of protection, 200 fortified cities (places de s ret ) were given to the Huguenots for eight years.

The provisions of the Edict of Nantes were never fully carried out, even during the reign of Henry IV. Its political clauses were abrogated by Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister of King Louis XIII, in 1629. Persecution of the Huguenots resumed during the reign of Louis XIV, particularly after 1681. When the edict was revoked four years later, hundreds of thousands of Huguenots were forced to flee France and take refuge in Protestant countries.

What the Edict of Nantes is saying is that French common folks could practice their own religion in their homes and in the assigned buildings and structures designated by the King or Lord of the area. This brought peace to a war that had been going on for years and it also brought unity to the nation. With a religious wall in place, people could not relate to others and express their own beliefs freely without the fear of being killed. The Edict of Nantes takes care of this problem (at least for a little while). Once the people feel that they are a part of the community and their surroundings, they will be loyal to the King and the governing Lords.

The historical significance of the Edict of Nante in European history is very great. The edict granted religious freedom, though limited, to the Huguenots and offered them protection by giving them 200 fortified cities for eight years or so. Even though they were granted some religious freedom, they also had guidelines to go along side that freedom. The Huguenots were not allowed to introduce people to their religion or “convert” them out of Catholicism. Under this Edict they also had to be faithful to the King or Lord that ruled over them.

As you have just read, the Edict of Nantes was a very important document in the history of France. It granted religious freedom to the Huguenots (French commoners) in their homes and in designated places of worship. It established a sense of unity in France by giving people the choice of religion instead of being forced to follow the religion of the King or of the Lord of the land being governed. It also helped the economy of France by collecting more taxes on houses or worship. As you can see, this document was very important to the economical, religious, and social power of France.