Henri IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes at Nantes on 13 April 1598, ending the French Wars of Religion between Catholics and Huguenots. The edict granted Huguenots freedom of conscience throughout France, the right to worship in specified towns, civil equality with Catholics and control of a number of fortified towns for their own security. It held, with periods of reduced enforcement, until Louis XIV revoked it in 1685, after which large numbers of Huguenots fled France. This entry is for the signing itself; the edict as a legal instrument is recorded separately elsewhere in this database.
Facts
Consequences
What It SettledEnded the French Wars of Religion and granted Huguenots freedom of conscience and civil equality; it held, with periods of reduced enforcement, until Louis XIV revoked it in 1685, after which large numbers of Huguenots fled France. 1 Lasting ConsequenceHeld, with periods of reduced enforcement, until Louis XIV revoked it in the Edict of Fontainebleau on 18 October 1685, after which large numbers of Huguenots fled France for Protestant states across Europe and the Americas. 1 The Event
When It Happened Where It Happened Principal PartiesHenri IV of France, who signed the edict; the Huguenot delegates whose petitions it answered. 1 Scholarship
Where It Is RecordedRegistered by the Parlement of Paris on 25 February 1599, after Henri IV pressed for its enforcement. 1 Status
Legal StatusGranted Huguenots freedom of conscience throughout France and the right to worship publicly in specified towns and on named noble estates, short of full civil equality with Catholics, who alone could worship freely everywhere including Paris. 1 Connections
Associated With
Source The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd revised editionF. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone (eds.)
This source names France directly: "Henri IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes at Nantes on 13 April 1598, ending the French Wars of Religion between Catholics and Huguenots."
Source The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd revised editionF. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone (eds.)
Belongs to Tradition
Source The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd revised editionF. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone (eds.)
Originated In
Source The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd revised editionF. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone (eds.)
Related To
Sources
1. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd revised edition
F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2005- s.v. Nantes, Edict of
- Originated In: France, Stored event-place property on this entity, cited to this source: Nantes, France.
View the Source 2. Edict of Nantes (Wikipedia)
Lead
signed in April 1598 by King Henry IV of France
Lead section: period-start-year
The Edict of Nantes (French: édit de Nantes) was an edict signed in April 1598 by King Henry IV of France that granted the Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was predominantly Catholic.
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