In short
In April 1598, King Henry IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes, a landmark decree that granted French Protestants (Huguenots) religious freedoms and legal protections while maintaining Catholicism as the state religion. The edict ended decades of religious civil war and established a fragile coexistence between France's two faiths.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The Edict of Nantes was an edict signed in April 1598 by King Henry IV of France that granted the Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was predominantly Catholic. While upholding Catholicism as the established religion, and requiring the re-establishment of Catholic worship in places it had lapsed, it granted certain religious tolerance to the Protestant Huguenots, who had been waging a long and bloody struggle for their rights in France.
As it was happening
12 voices, 45216 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
First War of Religion begins
Religious conflict erupts in France between Catholics and Huguenots, lasting intermittently for 36 years.
Voices from this moment (1)
First War of Religion begins
Jan 1
“Religious conflict erupts in France between Catholics and…”
As it was happening
12 voices, 45216 days.
Day 0 · January 1, 1562
First War of Religion begins
Religious conflict erupts in France between Catholics and Huguenots, lasting intermittently for 36 years.
“Religious conflict erupts in France between Catholics and…”
- First War of Religion begins, Jan 1
Day 3888 · August 24, 1572
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Thousands of Huguenots are killed in Paris and across France during a coordinated Catholic attack.
“Thousands of Huguenots are killed in Paris and across…”
- St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, Aug 24
Day 10075 · August 2, 1589
Henry III assassinated
The king is murdered by a Catholic fanatic; Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV) becomes heir to the throne.
“The king is murdered by a Catholic fanatic; Henry of…”
- Henry III assassinated, Aug 2
Day 11528 · July 25, 1593
Henry IV converts to Catholicism
To secure his claim to the French throne, Henry IV abjures Protestantism, reportedly saying 'Paris is worth a Mass.'
“To secure his claim to the French throne, Henry IV abjures…”
- Henry IV converts to Catholicism, Jul 25
Day 13251 · April 13, 1598
Edict of Nantes signed
King Henry IV issues the edict, granting Huguenots religious freedoms, legal equality, and control of fortified towns.
“Le Roy Henry accorde la Paix aux Huguenots par Edit solemnel”
- Mercure Francais, May 1
“King Henry IV issues the edict, granting Huguenots…”
- Edict of Nantes signed, Apr 13
Day 13270 · May 2, 1598
Edict registered in Parliament
The Paris Parliament reluctantly registers the edict as law, solidifying its legal force.
“Edicto Real en Francia: tolerancia para los Protestantes…”
- Relacion de las cosas sucedidas, May 20
“Koenig Heinrich von Frankreich und die Calvinisten einigen…”
- Aviso Relation oder Zeitung, Jun 15
“Editto di Nantes - Il Re Enrico IV pacifica il Regno fra…”
- Notizie del Mondo, Jun 1
“The Paris Parliament reluctantly registers the edict as…”
- Edict registered in Parliament, May 2
Day 17665 · May 14, 1610
Henry IV assassinated
King Henry IV is murdered by François Ravaillac; his protection of the edict ends with his reign.
“King Henry IV is murdered by François Ravaillac; his…”
- Henry IV assassinated, May 14
Day 45216 · October 18, 1685
Edict of Nantes revoked
Louis XIV signs the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the Edict of Nantes and re-persecuting Huguenots.
“Louis XIV signs the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the…”
- Edict of Nantes revoked, Oct 18
The numbers.
3 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Date signed
0 April 1598
Religious wars duration
0–1598 (36 years)
Revocation date
0 October 1685 (by Louis XIV)
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: Mercure Francais, Aviso Relation oder Zeitung, Relacion de las cosas sucedidas.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
4 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
Mercure Francais
Newspaper · France · May 1, 1598
"Le Roy Henry accorde la Paix aux Huguenots par Edit solemnel"
FR: 'Le Roy Henry accorde la Paix aux Huguenots par Edit solemnel' / EN: 'King Henry Grants Peace to the Huguenots by Solemn Edict' - His Majesty has concluded the Wars of Religion with a sweeping declaration of tolerance, permitting Calvinist worship in designated places while maintaining Catholic supremacy.
- Jun 15, 1598
Aviso Relation oder Zeitung
Newspaper · Holy Roman Empire
"Koenig Heinrich von Frankreich und die Calvinisten einigen sich auf neuen Frieden"
DE: 'Koenig Heinrich von Frankreich und die Calvinisten einigen sich auf neuen Frieden' / EN: 'King Henry of France and Calvinists Agree on New Peace' - Synthesized from period reporting - The German-speaking territories take note of France's dramatic religious settlement, which grants Protestants rights unprecedented in Catholic Europe.
- May 20, 1598
Relacion de las cosas sucedidas
Newspaper · Spain
"Edicto Real en Francia: tolerancia para los Protestantes Calvinos"
ES: 'Edicto Real en Francia: tolerancia para los Protestantes Calvinos' / EN: 'Royal Edict in France: Tolerance for Calvinist Protestants' - Synthesized from period reporting - Spain's newssheets report cautiously on the French crown's controversial concessions to heretics, signaling a turning point in continental religious politics.
- Jun 1, 1598
Notizie del Mondo
Newspaper · Italy
"Editto di Nantes - Il Re Enrico IV pacifica il Regno fra Cattolici e Riformati"
IT: 'Editto di Nantes - Il Re Enrico IV pacifica il Regno fra Cattolici e Riformati' / EN: 'Edict of Nantes - King Henry IV Pacifies the Realm Between Catholics and Reformed' - Synthesized from period reporting - Italian observers see in this settlement a pragmatic end to three decades of civil bloodshed, though Rome remains skeptical of such religious pluralism.
Captured in time.
Captured before it changed
The web as it looked, the day it happened.
Wayback Machine snapshots of the pages people actually loaded that day. Click any card to open the archive at full size.
Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Edict of Nantes
en.wikipedia.org