The_Edict Edict_of_Nantes

henry iv of france frans pourbus younger.

the edict of nantes henry iv signed comprised 4 basic texts, including principal text made of 92 articles , largely based on unsuccessful peace treaties signed during recent wars. edict included 56 particular (secret) articles dealing protestant rights , obligations. example, french state guaranteed protection of french protestants travelling abroad inquisition. crucifies me, protested pope clement viii, upon hearing of edict. final 2 parts consisted of brevets (letters patent) contained military clauses , pastoral clauses. these 2 brevets withdrawn in 1629 louis xiii, following final religious civil war.

the 2 letters patent supplementing edict granted protestants safe havens (places de sûreté), military strongholds such la rochelle, in support of king paid 180,000 écus year, along further 150 emergency forts (places de refuge), maintained @ huguenots own expense. such act of toleration unusual in western europe, standard practice forced subjects follow religion of ruler — application of principle of cuius regio, eius religio.

while granted privileges huguenots, edict upheld catholicism s position established religion of france. protestants gained no exemption paying tithe , had respect catholic holidays , restrictions regarding marriage. authorities limited protestant freedom of worship specified geographic areas. edict dealt protestant , catholic coexistence; made no mention of jews, or of muslims, offered temporary asylum in france when moriscos being expelled spain.

the original act promulgated edict has disappeared. archives nationales in paris preserves text of shorter document modified concessions extracted king clergy , parlement of paris, delayed ten months before signing , setting seals document in 1599. copy of first edict, sent safekeeping protestant geneva, survives. provincial parlements resisted in turn; recalcitrant, parlement of rouen, did not unreservedly register edict until 1609.

the location of signing mooted. edict states merely given @ nantes, in month of april, in year of our lord 1 thousand 5 hundred , ninety-eight . late 19th century catholic tradition cited signing in maison des tourelles , home of prosperous spanish trader andré ruiz; destroyed bombing in world war ii.