The Huguenots Evangelicals persecuted by the French state he Protestant Reformation in the two stormy centuries of persecution, T16th century changed the face the great majority of them had been of Europe, including France. At one driven from their native land. When point, evangelical Protestants (known given the opportunity, these loyal and as Huguenots) made up ten per cent hard-working citizens made a great of the population of France,1 and contribution to France, and also in the close to half the nobility.2 But after countries to which they fled.3 The story of the Huguenots encourages Christians in our day to “seek the peace of the city” in which they live. However, despite being model citizens, their religious liberty gave way to persecution – a timely warning not to take civic freedoms for granted. ‘Emigration of the Huguenots, 1566’ by Jan Antoon Neuhuys MARGUERITE Growth and persecution OF NAVARRE The sister of King Francis I of France, Marguerite, was unusually gifted and beautiful – and deeply committed to the Protestant faith. She used Fleeing Huguenots welcomed by the Prince-elector of Brandenburg-Prussia her position as Queen of Navarre (a territory in he renewed study of the were burned at the stake. Many south-west France) TBible during the Renaissance others were tortured or sent as to give refuge helped prepare the way for the slaves to galley ships, or fled to to those fleeing Protestant Reformation. At its neighbouring countries.7 persecution.14 core, the reformers rediscovered Despite this, the reformed During her reign the Bible’s teaching that church in France kept growing.8 (1525-1549), the salvation is a gift of God’s free The joyful witness of those poor of Navarre grace. The reformed church willing to suffer for their faith were well educated, spread quickly in Europe. In attracted many others into the the sick and needy France it gained ground despite church. Crowds were amazed to were cared for, and vicious persecution from the see men, women – even children agriculture and authorities.4 – singing psalms as they faced a good administration In 16th century Europe it horrible death.9 flourished.15 was usual for a country to Into this context, Protestant tolerate only one religion. So, missionaries came from in Catholic France, Protestants Geneva to teach and nurture were viewed as disloyal. The new congregations. About 88 prestigious Sorbonne University entered France in the late 1550s demanded the execution of and early 1560s.10 Amazingly, these ‘heretics’.5 And in 1534 there were about 2,000 that is what King Francis I reformed churches in France by decreed, after a protest against 156111 – comprising about ten the Roman Catholic mass that per cent of the population.12 even some reformers saw as The Huguenots were overly provocative.6 persecuted despite being known This first wave of persecution as loyal and economically was fierce. Some Protestants productive citizens.13 Queen Marguerite Huguenots 1517 1523 1534 history: Luther wrote his ‘95 Jean Vallière became Intense persecution theses’ the first Protestant following the Key dates martyr in France ‘placards’ incident Massacres and resistance some Huguenot leaders to take up arms in protection of their families and communities.17 Civil war dragged on for over thirty years.18 The most brutal atrocity was the infamous St Bartholomew’s Day massacre of August 1572.19 Just prior to this there had been a welcome lull in hostilities, and the leading Huguenot nobles had all been invited to Paris to witness the wedding of the Huguenot St Bartholomew’s Day massacre Henry of Navarre and the Catholic Princess Margaret.20 Their union was intended to n the death of the King Henry II in 1559, symbolise peace. Oreal power in France passed to the Shortly after the wedding, however, it nobility, many of whom had, by that time, seems that the Catholic regent of France, become Protestant. Political influence was Catherine de Medici, ordered the assassination precariously balanced between the Roman of the Huguenot leader, Admiral Coligny. But Catholic House of Guise and the Protestant the plot failed and Coligny was only wounded. House of Bourbon.16 Catherine feared revenge and so, as a pre- In January 1562, increased Huguenot emptive strike, the order was issued to kill the influence helped secure a royal edict granting Huguenots in Paris and elsewhere. The order limited religious toleration. But the hope of was brutally executed (the river Seine ran red even greater freedom was dashed by the with their blood). Estimates of deaths range outbreak of civil war that same year. A series between 10,000 and 20,000.21 of massacres, (for example 63 Huguenots Civil war flared up once more, with Henry were killed at Vassy in 1562), prompted of Navarre leading the Huguenot forces.22 CONSTITUTIONAL RESISTANCE In response to the St Bartholomew’s Day massacre, a number of Huguenots wrote powerful critiques of absolutist monarchy. In 1579 A Defence of Liberty against Tyrants argued that a king must observe the laws of God and of his country. Lesser magistrates operating under a tyrant could legitimately curb his actions. Such Huguenot works contributed to the development in Britain of the 23 idea of a constitutional monarchy limited by a representative parliament. Critique: ‘Vindiciae contra tyrannos’ 1541 1555 1559 1562 John Calvin settled in First formally After the death of Limited freedom Geneva constituted French Henry II, nobles granted to the two Reformed Church became more million people in powerful. Up to half reformed churches in of them protected France. Huguenots. 2m THE DUKE OF Edict of Nantes, 1598 SULLY France had been devastated economically by the civil war and the Huguenot contribution was a key factor in national recovery. King Henry IV famously vowed to ensure that every peasant in France would be able to afford a chicken in the pot (poule au pot) every Sunday.32 Helped Registration of the Edict of Nantes by the Parliament of Paris by his chief adviser, the Duke of Sully, a remarkable transformation took place. n 1589 the Huguenot The Edict of Nantes Sully, a Huguenot, was a Ileader Henry of Navarre provided an interlude gifted financier, engineer, (Henry IV) succeeded of freedom in which agriculturalist, military adviser to the throne.24 To gain Huguenots were able to and politician. He organised a the support of Paris, he actively participate in programme of works to build converted to Catholicism society.29 Their industry, the infrastructure of France: in 1593.25 Famously, he agriculture and trade bridges, roads, hospitals, is supposed to have said: prospered. They became schools, fortifications, and ‘Paris is worth a mass’.26 leaders in the textile, a canal system. To liberate Henry didn’t forget his old paper, iron and printing commerce, he abolished road friends, the Huguenots. In industries, and were tolls and created a national 1598 he issued the Edict famous for beautiful postal service. Sully ended of Nantes, which secured designs and craftsmanship, the policy of deforestation rights for Protestants and often travelling abroad and ordered the planting gave strong guarantees to learn new techniques. of thousands of trees.33 He that they would be Many Huguenots became promoted new agricultural respected.27 leading lawyers, doctors methods and oversaw projects Most people in France, and writers.30 Later in the which some say almost sickened by the brutality 17th century, Louis XIV’s doubled the area of productive of civil war, welcomed government minister farmland. Sully sponsored new the new settlement. For Colbert described them industrial techniques, and two major faiths to be as ‘the thriftiest, most organised the rebuilding of officially tolerated within hard-working, and most Paris.34 He encapsulated the one country was a historic intelligent of the King’s Huguenot virtues of hard work, development for Europe.28 subjects’.31 enterprise and loyalty. 1562 1572 1598 1610 A massacre of Massacre of St The Edict of Nantes Assassination of Huguenots at Vassy Bartholomew's Day granted toleration Henry IV triggered civil war for Huguenots Tyranny and the end of toleration When Henry IV was assassinated in 1610, the Louis XIV famously regarded himself as ‘The Huguenots were immediately vulnerable. The fall Sun King’. He was supposed to have declared: of La Rochelle, the main Huguenot city, in 1628 ‘One faith, one law, one king’.37 He regarded the marked the loss of their political influence.35 But Huguenots as an affront to his absolute rule, during the long reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715) and made life increasingly difficult for them, their situation became much worse, culminating eventually engaging in a policy of outright in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.36 persecution.38 THE ESCALATION OF PERSECUTION – LITTLE BY LITTLE 1. Re-education. Books were published arguing 6. Religious discrimination. Huguenot pastors that France should only have one religion. were accused under blasphemy laws and were Priests were sent out to win back Protestants eventually forbidden to preach. Churches and on their deathbeds.39 schools were torn down.44 2. Inducements to conform. From 1676 people 7. Intrusion into the family. Children not were offered financial incentives to ‘convert baptised into the Catholic Church could be back’ to Catholicism. Within three years the removed from their parents and raised as number of certified ‘converts’ had reached Catholics, once they reached the age of seven.45 10,000.40 8. Armed violence. From 1681, armed forces 3. Repressive restrictions. Huguenots were were billeted with Protestant families. Violence only allowed to bury their dead at night, and no was encouraged to force conversion.46 more than twelve were to meet for a wedding.41 9.