Revocation of the Edict of Nantes
- When
- 1685
- Where
- Palace of Fontainebleau
- Episodes
- 1
In October 1685, Louis XIV issued the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the 1598 Edict of Nantes. This decree declared Protestantism illegal in France, stripped Huguenots of civil rights, and ordered the destruction of their churches and schools, triggering a mass exodus.
Episodes
Background and detail
Background. The Edict of Nantes, signed by Henry IV in 1598, granted substantial rights and religious tolerance to French Calvinist Protestants, known as Huguenots. It ended decades of religious wars by allowing them to practice their faith and maintain civil rights within the predominantly Catholic state.
Revocation. Louis XIV, Henry IV's grandson, issued the Edict of Fontainebleau on 18 October 1685. This document repealed the rights afforded to Huguenots, declared Protestantism illegal, and ordered the closure of Protestant schools and the destruction of their churches, effectively ending legal tolerance in France.
Consequences. The revocation caused a mass exodus of Huguenots from France, resulting in a significant loss of talent and resources for the country. It also damaged Louis XIV's international reputation, making Protestant nations bordering France more hostile to his regime, while some rulers like Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia encouraged refugees to seek asylum.
People involved
- Louis XIV · King of France who issued the Edict of Fontainebleau
- Huguenots · French Calvinist Protestants deprived of rights
Sources
- Edict of Fontainebleau Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-07
- Edict of Nantes Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-07
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.