The
Huguenot movement began to take shape after 31st October 1517
with the publication of MARTIN LUTHER's 95 theses against corruption
in the Roman Catholic Church - the only official Christian church
in Europe at the time. He soon had many supporters throughout
Europe who became known as PROTESTANTS.
JOHN
CALVIN was a French Protestant who published his Institutin Christianae
Religionis in 1536. He was particularly well supported by Protestants
in Switzerland, France, Scotland and the Netherlands. The origin
of Huguenot, as applied to the dissenters from the Church of
Rome is uncertain, but is supposed to have been derived from
Hugeon, a word used in Touraine to signify persons who walk at
night. Their only safe place of worship for one hundred years
had been dark caves and the blue vault of the heavens. Use of
the term "Huguenot" dates from approximately 1550 when
it was used in court cases against "heretics" (dissenters
from the Roman Catholic Church). As nickname and even abusive
name it's use was banned in the regulations of the Edict of Nantes
which Henry IV (Henry of Navarre, who himself earlier was a Huguenot)
issued in 1559. The French Protestants themselves preferred to
refer to themselves as "réformees"
(reformers) rather than "Huguenots". It was much later
that the name
"Huguenot" became an honorary one.
The
Roman Catholic Monarchy oppressed the Huguenot movement, considering
it to be a threat to both the Church and the might of the King. "Une
foi, un loi, un roi," (one faith, one law, one king). This
traditional saying gives some indication of how the state, society,
and religion were all bound up together in people's minds and
experience. Religion had formed the basis of the social consensus
of Europe for a millenium. Since Clovis, the French monarchy
in particular had closely tied itself to the church -- the church
sanctified its right to rule in exchange for military and civil
protection. France was "the first daughter of the church" and
its king "The Most Christian King" (le roy tres chretien),
and no one could imagine life any other way.
The
persecution of the Huguenots began during the rule of FRANCIS
I (1515-1547) and became particularly bad while HENRY II (1547-1559)
was on the throne. A general edict which encouraged the extermination
of the Huguenots was issued on 29 January 1536 in France.
The
next king was FRANCIS II (1544-1560) who was a minor, married
to Mary, Queen of Scots. After his sudden death he was succeded
by his brother CHARLES IX (1560-1574), also a minor, whose mother,
CATHERINE DE MEDICI acted as Regent. She tried to promote peace
between the Catholics and Protestants by granting certain privileges
to the Huguenots by means of the EICT OF ST GERMAIN (17th January,
1561).
The
peace became short-lived when on 1st March, 1562 a number of
Catholics descended on a large Huguenot assembly in Vassy, killing
1200. This ignited the the Wars of Religion which would rip apart,
devastate, and bankrupt France for the next three decades. Numerous
attempts at bringing about peace followed, but proved unsuccessful.
By
August 1570, the Regent Catherine de Medici was forced to declare
the PEACE OF ST GERMAIN to prevent the Huguenots from taking
Paris. Their leader and spokesman, Gaspard de Coligny, succeded
in obtaining freedom of religious practice in all cities except
Paris. DE COLIGNY was an Admiral of France as well as Governor
of Picardy. He joined the Protestants in 1559. The Peace of St
Germain had illustrated clearly just how much power was vested
in the Huguenots. The Catholics feared this power and it was
decided to eliminate the Huguenots, particularly their leaders.
With the marriage of Prince HENRY OF NAVARRE, a Huguenot, to
Marguerite de Valois (daughter of Catherine de Medici) on 23rd
and 24th August, 1572 a golden opportunity presented
itself. It happened during the wedding, when thousands of Huguenots
converged on Paris for the wedding celebrations.
At
some point during the night of August 23, the decision was taken
at the Louvre to kill Coligny and the Huguenot leaders gathered
around him. Charles IX was certainly there along with Catherine
de' Medici and Henri d'Anjou. It may not have been originally
intended to be a general massacre. Charles IX was reputedly badgered
into this decision by Catherine and his councillors, and when
he finally broke he is alleged to have said, "Well, then
kill them all that no man be left to reproach me."
During
the early hours of Sunday morning, a troop of soldiers came to
Coligny's door. They killed the guard that opened the door, and
rushed through the house. Coligny was dragged from his bed, stabbed,
and thrown out the window to the pavement below. Reputedly the
Duc de Guise mocked the body, kicking him in the face and announcing
that this was the king's will. Rumors ran thick and fast, and
somehow the militia and the general population went on a rampage,
believing themselves to be fully sanctioned by the king and the
church. Catholics identified themselves with white crosses on
their hats, and went around butchering their neighbors. The neighborhood
militias played a very significant role in the slaughter. The
killing went on for 3 days or so, with the city councillors and
the king unable to bring the whole thing under control. On Sunday
morning August 24th, 1572, Catherine de' Medici personally walked
through the streets of Paris to inspect the carnage. During this
Feast of ST BARTHOLOMEW, more than 8000 Huguenots were massacred
in Paris by the soldiers of the King. There are numerous tales
of atrocities, occasional ones of courage and compassion. Historians
have debated what really happened and why in excruciating detail
ever since.
The
Louvre itself was not immune. Henri de Navarre slept in his bridal
suite with an entourage of 40 Huguenot gentlemen, all of whom
were killed. Henri and his cousin, the Prince de Condé (another
Henri, the son of the late Louis who had been the champion of
the churches), were dragged before the king and threatened with
death if they did not convert. They did, and Navarre became a
prisoner of the court for the next four years, living in constant
fear of his life.
The
massacres spread to the provinces over the next few months. Some
thought they had directives from the crown to kill all the Protestants,
others thought there was no such thing. The actions of the governors
and mayors depended very much on the individuals and the circumstances
in their areas. Areas with vocal Protestant minorities often
suffered the most.
The
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, as it came to be known, destroyed
an entire generation of Huguenot leadership. Henri de Navarre
was a prisoner, not yet a known quality as a leader. Condé
eventually escaped to Germany, and Andelot, Coligny's younger brother,
was an exile in Switzerland. Although it wasn't clear at the time,
this was the beginning of the decline of the Protestant church in
France. In spite of the wars, the '60s had seen an enthusiastic growth
in the Religion. Over the months following, many Protestants despaired
and abjured their faith. The experience radicalised many of the survivors,
creating a profound distrust of the king, an unwillingness to disarm,
and an upsurge in the political rhetoric of resistance
Numerous
Religious Wars followed under the leadership of Charles IX. Charles
IX was succeded by his brother HENRY III (1574-1589). As he was
childless, he was succeeded by Henry of Navarre as HENRY IV (1589-1610).
Henry of Navarre's life was spared by pretending to support the
Roman Catholic faith. He made his "perilous leap"and
abjured his faith in July 1593, and 5 years later he was
the undisputed monarch as King Henry IV (le bon Henri, the good
Henry) of France. Having adopted Catholicism for political reasons,
Henry IV yet remained well disposed towards the Huguenots. He
was able to bring an end to the Religious Wars through the PEACE
OF VERVINS. On 13th April, 1598 through the proclamation of the
EDICT OF NANTES he provided the Huguenots with more religious
and political freedom than ever before. The Huguenots were allowed
to practice their faith in 20 specified French
"free" cities. France became united and a decade of peace followed.
In
his appempt to impose an absolute monarchy (the divine right
of kings) in France, Cardinal RICHELIEU, Prime Minister to LOUIS
XIII (1610-1643) decided to deprive the Huguenots of all political
freedom, even in their fortified cities. In reaction the Huguenots
decided in 1621 to resume the Religious Wars. Despite Huguenot
opposition, Richelieu took their last fortified city, LA ROCHELLE
on 28th October 1628. The MERCIFUL EDICT OF NîMES (1629) gave
the Huguenots a certain right of existence but their political power
was permanently removed
After
the death of Louis XIII in 1643, his widow, ANNE OF AUSTRIA acted
as regent for their son. In the same year Cardinal MAZARIN succeeded
Richelieu who had died the previous year. Under their leadership
there was a certain measure of tolerance towards the Huguenots.
During the civil wars known as the FRONDE RESISTANCE (1648-1652)
the Huguenots were loyal to Mazarin and were duly rewarded by
the DECLARATION OF ST GERMAIN (1652) in which the King expressed
his satisfaction with their behaviour. Shortly after this, however,
their privileges were further limited and the last Protestant
or Huguenot Synod met in Loudin in 1659.
After
the death of Mazarin in 1661, LOUIS XIV (1643-1715) the Sun King,
began his reign. He went to great lengths to convert the Huguenots.
When even the billeting of dragoons in Huguenot households, the
infamous DRAGONNADES, had no effect Louis proclaimed the EDICT
OF FONTAINEBLEAU on
17th October, 1685.
The
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, signed by Louis XIV on 22
October 1685, increased persecutions of the Huguenots again.
There was no safety for a Huguenot in France. The galleys, dungeon
or the stake was the alternative. All possible avenues of escape
were closed by the king and his troops. He did not want to lose
the people; he wanted to save their souls, but the Huguenots
did not see it in that light. The rich sacrificed their wealth,
and the poor the little mite that they possessed, for the sake
of life and liberty.
The
Huguenots, as a class, were the bone and sinew of France. They
had become a prominent factor among all classes, from noble to
peasant. The followers of Luther and Calvin were the bone and
sinew of the states, and in a general way, represented the best
class of inhabitants. The nobility were wealthy, the merchants
and manufacturers prosperous, and the poorer classes sober and
industrious. It is estimated that the loss to France by the Huguenot
persecutions, first and last, was about 400,000. Manufactures
and the arts were paralyzed, and the whole country suffered from
its effects for one hundred years. Louis and his predecessors
sowed the vipers' eggs that a century later brought Louis XVI
and his court to the guillotine. Thus, in a measure, did time
avenge the martyred Huguenots.
North,
South, East and West, they fled for life and liberty; by highways,
byways, wild mountain passes, forest trails, by sea. or land,
enclosed in casks, or in the foul holds of merchant vessels bound
to some foreign port. Any future prospect was preferable to a
life in France. Holland, Germany, Ireland and England gave them
shelter, even benighted Russia gave a home to French exiles,
and little Switzerland was full of refugees.
After
Revocation, some 80,000 French manufacturers and workmen fled
to the British Isles, bring such industries as paper making,
silk makers, tanners, furniture making, silver smithing. England
became an exporter, rather than an importer of such items as
velvets, satins, silks, taffetas, laces, gloves, buttons, serge
cloth, beaver and felt hats, linen, ironware, cutlery, feathers,
fans, girdles, pins, needles, combs, soap, viengar and many more
items manufacturered by the new Huguenot citizens. But life in
another country was not without its problems, not only of language
but also when the hard-working, frugal Huguenots came into competition
with the local people.
The
English laborer was jealous of the superior workmanship of the
French emigrant; and it remained for America to make a final
safe and happy home for the Huguenots of France. Between 1618
and 1725 about 7,000 to 10,000 Huguenot refugees reached the
shores of America. The largest concentration was in Virginia,
South Carolina, New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. The
Huguenots began arriving in Virginia and South Carolina as early
as 1688. In the period between late 1699 and early 1700 there
were five embarkations from England to Virginia and Carolina.
The names of 3 of the 5 ships which transported Huguenots were
'Peter and Anthony', 'Nassau' and 'Mary Ann.' Peter de
Reynaud was listed as a passenger aboard the 'Peter and Anthony'. The
'Mary Ann' was the first ship to arrive in Virginia (at the mouth
of the James River).
Thousands
of Huguenots had settled in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas
by the early 1700's. Many of these were artisans, following trades
in the New World that they had learned in the Old: blacksmiths,
coopers, gunsmiths, farmers, manufacturers, and clockmakers.
And many were young and newly married, a younger population being
more willing to undertake the long and dangerous ocean voyage. These
French-speaking settlers quickly moved into all aspects of life
in the young colonies. Because England and the American
colonies were at war with France, many of them anglicized their
names to more easily fit into American society. Among these
settlers were Lewis de Reynaud/Reno/Reneau and his family.