Huguenots

hu'ge-nots, the Protestants of France during the religious struggles of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The origin of the Huguenots dates with that of the Lutherans in Germany and the Presbyterians in Scotland. Their theological views were largely those of Calvin. During the reign of Francis I and his successor, Henry II, Protestant views spread so rapidly that the Huguenots became a political power in the kingdom. Their head was the Bourbon family, represented by the king of Navarre and the prince of Conde. The ducal family of Guise headed the Catholic party. The history of France during the latter half of the sixteenth century is little more than the record of a series of bloody civil wars between the two parties. Burnings and pillage were common. Without doubt, the people were actuated by zeal for their religious views, but the leaders on both sides appear to have been wordly-minded men, shockingly lacking in principle. They struggled like wolves for the control of young, weak kings. The queen mother, Catharine de Medici, one of the most unprincipled women of the day, set off the factions one against the other, as she thought might be best for the interests of her family. At one time, when the Protestants had been lulled into a false sense of security, she set on foot the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, the most horrible affair of the kind known in history.

The war between the factions came to an end toward the close of the century. Henry III, the king, caused Henry, the leader of the Guises, to be assassinated. Henry of Navarre then ascended the throne in 1589 as Henry IV. At the advice of counselors he espoused the Catholic religion. As king he was able in 1598 to issue the Edict of Nantes, guaranteeing the Huguenots freedom of worship in all towns and villages where they already had congregations. Paris and cathedral cities were excepted. The Huguenots were to enjoy the same political rights as the Catholics, and were eligible to all public offices. As a means of security, Henry permitted his old followers to retain fortifications. He made Sully, a leading Calvinist, his prime minister. For a time Huguenots and Catholics had rest. In 1624 Richelieu, the great French prime minister, decided that the interests of the kingdom demanded that the fortifications of the Huguenots should be placed in the king's hands. A local war followed. The Huguenots made an obstinate defense. Rochelle, their stronghold, fell before the royal troops in 1629. For a time after this the Huguenots were permitted freedom of worship, but, naturally enough, they were not particularly loyal subjects. In 1685, during the reign of Louis XIV, the Edict of Nantes was revoked. The Huguenots were ordered to join the Catholic church. Bodies of dragoons were sent into the provinces to compel obedience, just as under the Stuarts the dragoons were sent into Scotland to compel the Covenanters to join the Episcopal church. It is estimated that 300,000 Huguenots fled to Switzerland, Holland, England, and America.

Even before the revocation, the Huguenots, foreseeing what was coming, began to emigrate. Colonies were located in Brazil, Florida, Acadia, Canada, and the West Indies. New Amsterdam, now New York, was founded by the Huguenots under Dutch auspices. Peter Minuit was a Huguenot. Many migrated to Boston, Hartford, and the points farther south. In 1680 the city of Charleston was founded by French Huguenots. Colonies were planted on the Savannah. General Oglethorpe was a Huguenot. The history of the Huguenots in America includes a surprisingly large number of families of influence and reputation. Unlike the French of Louisiana and Canada, the French Huguenots have intermarried with other denominations to such an extent that they ceased long ago to form a distinct element.

See St. Bartholomew; Coligni