The Religious Policies of Louis XIV
Louis XIV was the son of King Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. He became the king of France at the age of four after the death of his father. His mother appointed Jules Cardinal Mazarin as regent and ruled for the child king's behalf. Louis XIV took over the power in 1661 following Mazarin's death. He had the longest reign in the history of Europe, from 1661 to 1715.
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Absolute Ruler
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King Louis XIV believed that God had given him ultimate authority as the government and the church ruler. Under his rule, religious leaders could still function but only by his permission. He believed he did not need to answer to any religious authority because he was only accountable to God. According to history professor A.J. Geant from the King's College and the University of Leeds, King Louis XIV believed that all power came from the king and he was determined that this fact should be recognized by all officials of the state.
Edict Of Nantes
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The Edict of Nantes was a declaration that provided religious and civil rights to Protestants living in France. It was signed by Henry IV in 1598. In 1685 Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which resulted in the persecution of the Huguenots, the Protestant community. Their churches were destroyed and an estimate of 200,000 left for refuge in England, Germany and other territories outside of France. Those who were captured were executed. The mass exodus affected France's economy due to the departure of people with commercial and industrial skills. It also increased hatred of France among the Huguenots' new adopted countries.
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The Papacy
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Although King Louis XIV professed to be a devout Catholic, he refused to submit to the authority of the pope. He considered himself as the head of the Catholic Church. The king extended his right to manage the incomes of the dioceses in the event of vacancy in the church leadership. In 1682, the declaration known as the Four Articles proclaimed the king independent of the pope and limited the pope's authority over the church and clergy. An Augustinian movement in the Roman Catholic church called Jansenism was also persecuted during King Louis XIV's reign.
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References
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