April 13, 1598

Edict of Nantes (pronounced nants or pronounced nahnt) was the first official recognition of religious toleration by a great European country. King Henry IV of France signed the edict in the city of Nantes on April 13, 1598. Before the edict was signed, there had been 50 years of internal warfare and religious division in France.

The edict allowed French Protestants, called Huguenots, control of about 100 fortified towns for 8 years. They were also given freedom of conscience, social and political equality with the Roman Catholic majority, and a certain degree of freedom of worship. The edict was seriously enforced only until the king's death in 1610. It was eventually revoked by King Louis XIV Oct. 18, 1685. As a result, about 200,000 Huguenots left France.

Contributor: Dale A. Johnson, Th.D., Prof. of Church History, Vanderbilt Univ.