On 22 October 1685, the Parlement of Paris registers the decree of King Louis XIV – the Edict of Fontainebleau – that effectively puts an end to the legitimate, though limited, existence of Reformed subjects in his kingdom, which was granted in 1598 by King Henry IV in the so-called Edict of Nantes.
Historical background
While the followers of the Genevan reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) were usually called Calvinists, in France they were also known as “Huguenots”. In use ever since the mid-sixteenth century, the origin of the name Huguenot remains unknown, although various theories suggest that it may have been derived from the German word Eidgenossen, a term signifying “confederates bound together by oath” and which was used to describe Genevan patriots who were hostile to the Duke of Savoy. Although initially tolerated, the Reformed...
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Citation: Green, Michaël. "Revocation of the Edict of Nantes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 January 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=19490, accessed 18 December 2025.]
