wars
of religion
One calls "wars of religion" the
long conflict which took place in France to
the xvi E century between
the Christians, divided between catholics and Protestants.
WHY CHRISTIANS OPPOSED Are?
Before the Protestant Reform, the religion
of the kingdom of France was that of the king, i.e. the catholic religion.
Starting from the introduction of Protestantism in France, two
religions cohabit and certain
catholics see there a threat against the unit of the kingdom.
Initially reconciling, the king François I
er undertakes to fight
against the Protestants after the business of the Wall cupboards: in 1534,
posters (called wall cupboards) against the mass were hung on the door of its
room. Following François I er, the kings of France continue the
combat against what they call from now on "the heresy ".
WHICH ARE THE PRINCIPAL STAGES OF THE
WARS OF RELIGION?
In 1562, the conflict becomes soldier and,
until 1598, eight wars tear the country:
they are the wars of religion. They oppose the catholics to the Protestants,
called the huguenots. This violence culminates with the
massacre of Saint-Barthélemy: in the night from the 23 to August 24, 1572,
the queen Catherine de Médicis makes
assassinate more than 3 000 Protestants in Paris.
The religious conflict degenerates
into civil war and the king Henri
III is assassinated in 1589. Its successor, Henri de Navarre (who is
Protestant) converts with Catholicism to bring back peace. He is made crown
king under the name of Henri IV.
Confronted with the extremists of the two
camps (in particular the Holy catholic League),
Henri IV succeeds in putting an end to the wars of
religion thanks to the promulgation of the
edict of Nantes in 1598.
What the EDICT OF NANTES?
The edict of Nantes of 1598 founds the
freedom of the everywhere protesting
worship
where it was practised before, except in Paris and in the royal residences.
The already Protestant areas can thus remain it, but Protestantism cannot
develop any more. In addition, the edict of Nantes returns their civic rights
to reformed and a certain number of places
of safety grants to them (of the strengthened cities) where they will
be able to be protected.
The edict of Nantes institutes a new
policy of tolerance, exceptional in Europe.
WHAT IS THAT A DRAGONNADE?
Although it is more or less well accepted
(Henri IV dies in 1610, assassinated by a catholic fanatic), the edict of
Nantes brings back peace in the kingdom of France. However, during the
xvii E century, the most enthusiastic catholics make pressure
on the kings of France so that they denounce this edict.
Sensitive to these pressures, Louis
XIV multiplies vexatious
measurements against the Protestants of the South. He sends to
regiments of dragons in the South
These soldiers, who are placed at the inhabitant (at the time there were not
barracks), are systematically confined in Protestant families where they are
devoted to exactions: it is what is called
the dragonnades.
WHY the EDICT OF NANTES Is REVOKED?
Many Protestants prefer to convert with
Catholicism rather than to have to place dragons on their premises. At once,
fascinating pretext of the multiplication of these forced
conversions, Louis XIV decides that the provisions envisaged by the edict
of Nantes do not take place any more to exist since there are not (apparently)
more Protestants in France. In 1685, it cancels the edict of Nantes.
This Revocation
of the Edict of Nantes causes the exile of almost 200 000 French Protestants who
refuse to convert with Catholicism; they flee mainly towards Germany,
Switzerland, the Netherlands and England. In the Cevennes, a Protestant revolt
bursts and Louis XIV is obliged to send the royal army against the
camisards.
To the
xviii E century, the tolerance towards the Protestants
develops but it is necessary to await the French revolution so that their
religion is recognized with whole share.
TO GO FURTHER
? the Reform and Counter-Reformation
? Christianity
? absolutism of Louis XIV
? characters: François I er –Catherine de Médicis –Henri IV –Louis XIV
? interactivity: chronology of modern Times
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