Author: King Louis XIV – Ruler of France from 1661 until his death in 1715. He was determined to unify France by creating a centralized government in the capital of France, and additionally eliminated all remnants of feudalism that were left in France. His main focuses were the rediscovery and support of the arts, as well as the expansion of France's territory and success of their economy.
Speaker: See above
Date/Context: Prior to the release of this document, Protestants, or Huguenots as referred to in France, were given religious freedom by King Henry IV in 1598. Despite this, King Louis XIV wished to unify the nation under one religion: Catholicism. Therefore, he released to revocation one hundred years later in order to force the unification of France. This reinforced his absolutist authority and complete control over France, allowing the country to succeed as a world power and dominate Europe.
Summary: The document essentially strips the rights of Protestants in France. Louis XIV orders all temples and churches to be demolished, ministers of the religion executed if they do not convert to Catholicism, and for children born into Protestant families to baptized under the Catholic Church. In addition, King Louis XIV forbids the continuance of any practice of Protestantism either publicly or privately. Louis XIV also prohibits any Protestant from leaving France or they risk execution or eternal imprisonment. However, King Louis XIV has granted freedom to any Protestant who avoids all of the previously stated consequences and denies their identification with Protestantism, allowing them to continue their involvement in the country's commerce and politics.
Key Quotations: "Be it known that [with]...our certain knowledge, full power, and royal authority, we have by this present perpetual and irrevocable edict, suppressed and revoked...the edict of our said grandfather, [Henry IV], null and void, together with all concessions...in favor of the said persons of the [Reformed religion]..."
Good job! First, you accurately and succinctly label three defining characteristics. One, King Louis XIV wanted to unite France under Catholicism to strengthen the country and to purge it of its Protestant undertones. Two, he destroyed Protestant churches and refused them the ability to worship whether in public or in private. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, he prohibits them from leaving France; he states that they may live peacefully and resume normal life as long as they revoke their Protestant upbringings. To improve this post, you could explain the pretext of the Edict of Nantes, specifically why King Henry IV chose to create this law. You could've also explained more thoroughly the state of France at the time and what the king's father did to impact the status of France. Lastly, you could've added another quotation to fully get the essence of the document, but the quotation that you did choose is rather solid. Overall, good job!
ReplyDeleteHuguenots tended to belong to the middle class and controlled important areas of France. The revocation gave the king the authority to seize these lands and to curtail economic activity of those who he viewed as a threat to his absolutist rule.
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