huguenots

edict of nantes

A document of religious toleration issued by Henry IV which ended religious fighting Protestants and Catholics in France. This brought peace to France, but also Henry IV's assassination. It was cancelled by Louis XIV in 1685.

huguenots

French Protestants. The Edict of Nantes (1598) freed them from persecution in France, but when that was revoked in the late 1700s, hundreds of thousands of Huguenots fled to other countries, including America. User-contributed

30 years war

Religious wars culminated in this massive continental conflict, lasting from 1618-1648. Began when Holy Roman emperor tried to force his Bohemian subjects to return to the Catholic Church; main battleground was emperor's territory in Germany. Eventually included Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Danish, Polish, Bohemian, & Russian forces. Most destructive European conflict before 20th century. Motives to enter it were sometimes political or economic; these issues were complicated by religious differences. Damaged economies & societies; about 1/3 of German population died. Raised questions about viability of Europe as region of strong, independent, well-armed, & intensely competitive states