Louis XIV
King of France, grandson of Henry IV. In October 1685 he revoked the Edict of Nantes, banned Reformed worship in his kingdom and forbade his Protestant subjects to emigrate.
The Edict of Fontainebleau is issued in his name as “king of France and Navarre” and calls Henry IV, who granted the Edict of Nantes, his grandfather (Edict of Fontainebleau preamble). It is dated in October 1685 and “of our reign the forty-third”, which places the beginning of his reign in 1643 (Edict of Fontainebleau dating clause). The preamble states his claim that most of his Reformed subjects had become Catholics and that the old edict was therefore no longer needed (Edict of Fontainebleau preamble). See Louis XIV Revokes the Edict of Nantes.
In the timeline
- October 1685, firm dateLouis XIV Revokes the Edict of Nantes
By an edict given at Fontainebleau in October 1685, Louis XIV revokes the Edict of Nantes, orders the Reformed churches of France demolished, bans Reformed worship and forbids his Protestant subjects to leave. The Elector of Brandenburg offers those who flee a refuge.
Primary sources
The Edict of Fontainebleau (Revocation of the Edict of Nantes)
- Edict of Fontainebleau preamblesourcebooks.fordham.edu
- Edict of Fontainebleau dating clausesourcebooks.fordham.edu