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Edict of Nantes

✨ 1598, Nantes (France)

The Edict of Nantes was issued in April 1598 by King Henry IV of France, bringing an end to a long period of religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants, known in France as the Wars of Religion. Henry IV, who had himself been a Protestant before converting to Catholicism in 1593, sought to restore peace and political stability.

The edict did not make France a religiously neutral state: Catholicism remained the kingdom's official religion, and Catholic worship was restored in places where it had been interrupted. At the same time, French Protestants, mainly Calvinists known as Huguenots, received important legal protections. They were allowed to practice their religion in specified places, enjoy certain civil rights, and have access to justice without being disadvantaged solely because of their faith.

The Edict of Nantes also included political and military provisions intended to reassure the Protestant community. For a limited period, some Protestant towns were allowed to maintain fortified places and garrisons under their control. These measures reflected the fragile balance that followed decades of violence. The edict did not eliminate religious tensions, but it established a framework for coexistence that helped consolidate the authority of the monarchy.

In 1685, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes through the Edict of Fontainebleau. Protestant worship was then prohibited, and many Huguenots left France for other countries. The revocation weakened the principle of religious coexistence established by Henry IV and had significant social, economic, and political consequences.

💡 Did you know?

Paris is well worth a mass! Henry IV was born Protestant, but to become king and bring back peace, he had to become Catholic. He said this famous phrase to show that he preferred to save his country rather than remain stuck on his ideas. As king, he then protected his former Protestant friends with the Edict.

The chicken in the pot. Henry IV is one of the French people's favorite kings because he wanted everyone to be happy. His dream was that every peasant in his kingdom could eat 'a chicken in the pot on Sunday'. It was thanks to the peace of the Edict of Nantes that agriculture was able to restart.

An inspiring text. Did you know that the Edict of Nantes traveled through time? The idea that laws should protect people matter what they believe has become very important for modern democracies. It is one of the first documents that says it is wrong to attack someone for their religion.