The Huguenots
Evangelicals persecuted by the French state
T he Protestant Reformation in the
16th century changed the face
of Europe, including France. At one
two stormy centuries of persecution,
the great majority of them had been
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
Growth and persecution
MARGUERITE
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
T he renewed study of the
Bible during the Renaissance
helped prepare the way for the
were burned at the stake. Many
others were tortured or sent as
slaves to galley ships, or fled to
south-west France)
to give refuge
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
theses’
Jean Vallière became
the first Protestant
Intense persecution
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
St Bartholomew’s Day massacre
to witness the wedding of the Huguenot
Henry of Navarre and the Catholic Princess
Margaret.20 Their union was intended to
O n the death of the King Henry II in 1559,
real power in France passed to the
nobility, many of whom had, by that time,
symbolise peace.
Shortly after the wedding, however, it
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
idea of a constitutional monarchy limited by a representative parliament.23 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.
2m
Huguenots.
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.
I n 1589 the Huguenot
leader Henry of Navarre
(Henry IV) succeeded
The Edict of Nantes
provided an interlude
of freedom in which
Sully, a Huguenot, was a
gifted financier, engineer,
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. Emigration forbidden and enslavement
4. Suppression of education. Huguenot schools practised. Many fled France. But those caught
were banned from teaching all but the bare trying to escape or refusing to convert to
minimum of reading and writing.42 Catholicism were often sent to the galleys.47
5. Banned from certain professions. Huguenots 10. Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. By
were forbidden to become lawyers, for 1685 Louis XIV claimed that there weren’t
example, and a Huguenot woman could not any Huguenots left so there was no need
become a linen draper.43 for toleration. All Protestant worship was
forbidden.48
1628 1643 1681 1685
Fall of La Rochelle, a Louis XIV accedes to The policy of the Revocation of the
Huguenot city the throne Dragonnades Edict of Nantes,
commenced many Huguenots
flee France
Huguenots flee: France’s loss, our gain
Jean Claude (1619-1687), a Many refugees managed to 50,000; another 10,000 fled to
Huguenot pastor exiled to flee from France at this time, Ireland.52 Large numbers settled
the Netherlands, said that including skilled silversmiths, in London as well as places like
persecution in France was an weavers, linen workers, Barnstaple, Bristol, Canterbury,
attempt at “making Religion to lacemakers, and clockmakers.50 Dover, Exeter, Norwich, Rye,
depend on the King’s pleasure, Their craftsmanship was Southampton, Winchester and
on the will of a Mortal Prince”.49 highly valued by surrounding north-east England.53 In East
He praised the compassion of countries, and they were Anglia, Huguenot refugees
foreign princes who welcomed known as model citizens.51 helped drain and reclaim
the refugees. England welcomed at least 40,000 acres of fenland.54
LESSONS FOR TODAY
The Huguenots were absolutely committed
to an evangelical biblical faith. The
early years of fierce persecution and
Tower of Constance the massacre of St Bartholomew’s Day
forced them into careful reflection on
the question of just resistance. Their
ONGOING PERSECUTION writings contributed significantly to the
development of constitutional democracy
IN FRANCE in the UK and the USA.58
When they were tolerated in France,
If you visit the French town Aigues Mortes the Huguenots proved themselves to
you can still see the Tower of Constance, be hard-working and loyal citizens. The
where, after the revocation of the Edict renewal of harsh persecution ultimately
of Nantes, Huguenot women were meant economic and cultural loss for
imprisoned if they refused to deny their France, as well as a corresponding benefit
faith.55 Many of them suffered for years for surrounding countries, including Britain.
in terrible conditions rather than recant. Today in the United Kingdom, some are
Marie Durand was only a teenager when pushing for a ‘toleration’ that, effectively,
she was imprisoned in 1730. She remained means ‘forcing everyone to believe the
steadfast in her faith for 38 years, and same thing’. In fact, that is just another kind
spent that time encouraging and helping of tyranny. True toleration means allowing
her fellow prisoners.56 It is believed that people freedom of conscience, religion,
she inscribed the word ‘Resister’ on the speech and assembly. And that is good for
prison wall, which can still be seen today.57 all of us.
References available at christian.org.uk/huguenots-ref
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