Consider the significance of the Edict of Nantes 1598 Essay

The lodge of Nantes immediately followed the Wars of Religion, which only divided France in terms of religion. The ordering of Nantes could be draw as a satisfying development in policies regarding religion in France in the 17th century.The policies were implemented by a monarch who sat on the fence when it came to religion, having devotions to twain Catholicism and Protestantism, in the shape of total heat IV.The Edict of Nantes itself was actually significant as its form _or_ system of government was the first of its kind in cut politics. Never beforehand had a French monarch tolerated both Catholicism and Protestantism and allowed them both to flourish in the same country. whatsoever hydrogens beliefs and motives in implementing such a indemnity, it was certainly an sea captain policy and a significant development in sixteenth and 17th century France. Toleration existed and although it can be argued that Protestants didnt stick genuinely much origin and the Cat holics remained in near total control of the mass of areas in the country but the Protestants certainly had to a greater extent tycoon than they had at a lower place previous more anti-Protestant monarchs.The Edict could also be described as a turning point. Indeed, it could be described as a rattling significant turning point. Legislation was put in place in an attempt to avoid discrimination against the Protestants. Discrimination was not evident by the Edict itself it was more of a case of trying to give the Protestants more rights. total heat couldnt go as far as braggart(a) the Protestants equal legal, religious and political rights because he would lose the support of the Catholics. However, thither can be no denying the meaning of the legislation. It was the attempt to be pragmatic sanction where religion is concerned which resulted in his death. The significance of heat contents manage lies in the difference and the pragmatism of his endure.The actual legislation c ould be described as ground breaking. The rights that the Edict of Nantes gave the Protestants included full liberty of conscience and private worship liberty of public worship wherever it had antecedently been granted and its extension to numerous other localities and to estates of Protestant nobles full accomplished rights including the right to hold public office royal subsidies for Protestant schools specific courts, composed of Roman Catholic and Protestant judges, to judge cases involving Protestants retention of the ecesis of the Protestant church in France and Protestant control of some cc cities then held by the Huguenots, including such strongholds as La Rochelle, with the king contribute to the maintenance of their garrisons and fortifications.In practice, things were slightly different for the Protestants who were oppressed by the Catholics and button up werent allowed anywhere near Paris. It is clear that full, equal rights for the Protestants were not addicted by Henry for example, Roman Catholic judges had more power in the courts than the Protestant judges did and often Roman Catholic preconceived idea came through in a number of cases but in that respect was some attempt to give the Protestants some rights and freedoms which was in itself significant.The Edict of Nantes was also very significant in terms of Henrys contradictory policy. He wanted to treasure the southern border of France from the Spanish and Austrian Hapsburgs. Henry was more patriotic than the French kings before him and his policies show this as he placed the Protestants in the south of France, using the Protestants to protect France from Spain. All of this center that in terms of French foreign policy the Edict of Nantes carries push significance for a number of reasonsThe removal of the Protestants a direction from Paris and kick upstairs towards the south means that Henry IV embarked on a policy of centralisation. There is no doubt that Henry converted t o Catholicism and well-tried to maintain as much power as possible for his Catholic friends in the establishment. Policies were made more in a centralised way i.e. from Paris and the Protestants were freezed out in positions of power by the Catholics. This is significant because of the reign of Louis XIII who furthered the centralisation policy, and shows that there was a trend towards centralisation before Louis XIII came onto the gage. This also shows that Henrys domestic and foreign policy can easily be linked, which is also significant. All of this emphasises how significant the Edict of Nantes was.Henrys patriotism was also on show in the implementation of the Edict of Nantes. He didnt want any foreign influence in his affairs and he wanted to appease the Protestants. The vanquish way to appease them was giving them an important role whilst getting what he wanted in his foreign policy by getting the Protestants to protect the borders of France. This is highly significant as never before had a French monarch been as patriotic as Henry and it is also significant because it indicates that Henry didnt actually want the Catholics to have power in all areas of France which probably indicates that he still had allegiances to the Protestant beliefs despite his metempsychosis to Catholicism.Henrys tactical manoeuvres were also significant in some other way. Basically, he proscribeed the Wars of Religion from continuing and restarting again. The irony is that his tendency to sit on the fence on the issue of religion in the end terms him his life. This is why some historians place emphasis on the significance of this vista of the Edict of Nantes. Henrys early life as a Protestant and his subsequent conversion to Catholicism make the Edict of Nantes evoke as well as significant.To consider the significance of the Edict of Nantes, we have to consider the situation in France before Henry IV came to the throne and even beyond the Wars of Religion. The Wars of Rel igion were where the Calvinist Huguenots (Protestants) and the Catholics did battle for control of the monarchy. The Catholics won and maintained control of the monarchy however, it is clear that something needed to be done to prevent another War of Religion from happening.Henry IV was the man with the problem of preventing another War of Religion and he turned out to be the perfect man for the job. Unlike most French monarchs in this period, Henry was pragmatic when it came to religion although he had developed a slight tasting for Catholicism. Henry felt that they were more important things than religion his patriotism as opposed to his religious beliefs but ultimately it was this that caused his downfall and eventual death.However, the very fact that the Wars of Religion didnt happen again throughout Henry IVs reign is very significant considering the huge discussion section between the two religions. Another War of Religion could have shape French history differently, espe cially if the Protestants/Calvinists came out on top. Todays France could also have been completely different if a war wasnt avoided. This makes Henrys reign and of course the Edict of Nantes take on further significance.The Edict of Nantes certainly cannot be described as basal but it was almost a complete reform of the honors regarding religion. In reality, there was little reform because there was major exploitation of flaws in the law by the Catholics. However, this shouldnt take anything away from the significance of the Edict of Nantes because the laws created Protestant strangleholds in the south of France.Despite all this, the Edict of Nantes takes on an bare lack of significance because of what happened to Henry and what happened under the reigns of subsequent monarchs. The Edict was thusly revoked in 1685 and steadily the Catholics moved towards a position of total power over the Protestants. So this means that the Edict of Nantes loses some of its significance becau se the policies of Henry had no impact on future monarchs. During Henrys reign, however, significance can be attached to the Edict.