Who were the Huguenots and what did they believe?

Huguenots were French Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who followed the teachings of theologian John Calvin. Persecuted by the French Catholic government during a violent period, Huguenots fled the country in the 17th century, creating Huguenot settlements all over Europe, in the United States and Africa. John Calvin.

Are there any Huguenot churches in the United States?

In Charleston at the end of the twentieth century, Huguenot descendants continued to take pride in their Huguenot church, the only one still in existence in America. Bosher, John F. Huguenot Merchants and the Protestant International in the Seventeenth Century.

Where did the Huguenots live in the southern colonies?

By 1695 there were about 800 French Huguenots in New York, some 300 of which probably lived in New York City. Southern Colonies. As in the northern colonies, there were some small clusters of French speakers such as those in Manakin, Virginia, but the majority stayed together in larger groups.

Are Huguenots and Walloons the same?

Huguenots, Walloons and Flemish History and Beliefs The French-speaking Protestants who fled from religious persecution and civil war on the continent are all loosely referred to as Huguenots, however this term properly refers to only those from France, and not to the Walloons from the Low Countries.

What was the French war of religion?

French Wars of Religion. The Massacre of Vassy sparked off decades of violence known as the French Wars of Religion. In April 1562, Protestants took control of Orleans and massacred Huguenots in Sens and Tours. In Toulouse, a riot resulted in the deaths of up to 3,000 people, many of them Huguenots. The battling continued into February of 1563 …

How did the Huguenots use their freedom?

Huguenots used their freedom to organize against the French crown, gaining political power, amassing loyal forces and forging separate diplomatic relationships with other countries.

How many Huguenots were there in 1562?

By 1562, there were two million Huguenots in France with more than 2,000 churches.

What happened on August 23, 1572?

During the three days of violence that began on the night of August 23, 1572, and spread from town to town, officials recruited Catholic citizens into militia groups that hunted down Huguenot citizens, indulging not only in murder but gruesome torture, mutilation and desecration of the dead.

How many people died in the Toulouse riot?

In Toulouse, a riot resulted in the deaths of up to 3,000 people, many of them Huguenots. The battling continued into February of 1563 when Francis, Duke of Guise, was assassinated by a Huguenot during a siege on Orleans and a truce was agreed upon.

When did the Huguenots flee?

Persecuted by the French Catholic government during a violent period, Huguenots fled the country in the 17th century, creating Huguenot settlements all over Europe, in the United States and Africa.

Where did the name Huguenot come from?

The origin of the name Huguenot is unknown but believed to have been derived from combining phrases in German and Flemish that described their practice of home worship. By 1562, there were two million Huguenots in France with more than 2,000 churches.

How much of the population did the Huguenots have?

The Huguenots were never more than a minority. At their height during the 1560s they may have amounted to 10 percent of the population. This initial growth did not survive the Saint Bartholomew ‘s Massacre; afterwards Huguenot ranks thinned considerably. By the close of the sixteenth century they were no more than 7 to 8 percent of the French populace. Their strength further eroded in the seventeenth century. When Louis XIV finally revoked the Edict of Nantes in October 1685, the Huguenot community was 800,000 to 1 million persons.

What rights did the Edict of Nantes give to Protestants?

The Edict of Nantes granted French Protestants limited rights of worship, access to royal offices, legal redress before special royal courts (known as chambres de l’édit or ‘Chambers of the Edict’), and rights to establish their own academies. Royal letters (brevets) accompanying the edict granted subsidies for their troops, pastors, and schools and allowed them to garrison certain towns. The brevets were not maintained beyond 1629, and the terms of the edict were interpreted by royal officials in an increasingly restrictive way, especially after 1661, until the edict was revoked by Louis XIV in the Edict of Fontainebleau (October 1685). Of the 873 pastors remaining in France at that time, about 140 abjured; but the remainder chose to defy the edict and take up exile in the Dutch Republic (43 percent), Switzerland (27 percent), England (23 percent) and Germany (7 percent). More surprising to the authorities was the degree of illegal emigration of lay Huguenots — latest estimates suggest a figure of around 200,000. The Huguenot diaspora made the revocation a European phenomenon and cemented the French Protestant sense of a separate identity. The cultural and economic influence of the exiled Huguenots was far from negligible, spreading beyond Europe to colonial North America and the Dutch colonies, even if it has sometimes been exaggerated. Protestantism survived underground in eighteenth-century France and was once more officially tolerated on the eve of the Revolution.

What did the Huguenots do in France?

Many Huguenots who remained in France began to assemble secretly in the désert (wilderness ), a moving biblical image that emphasized their tenacity. Women assumed an especially strong role. They led clandestine worship complete with prayers, scriptural readings, and the singing of psalms. Some women endured agonizing confinement. Those arrested at illicit religious assemblies were incarcerated in Catholic hospitals and nunneries. Women judged to have committed more serious offenses went to prison, where they often remained forgotten for decades. Finally, a few young women, and in time men, turned to prophesy, becoming anguished voices crying out to protest their oppression.

What was the name given to the French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin?

The nickname given to the French Protestants who followed the teachings of John calvin. During the wars of religion the term referred to a militant political party. The Huguenots were the most revolutionary of 16th-century Protestants.

What was the Huguenot’s political view?

The sixteenth-century Catholic perception of Huguenot political engagement has created an enduring view that they were republicans, determined to resist monarchical authority, who sought to establish a federal state in France after the model of the Swiss cantons or the emerging Dutch Republic. In reality, the basis for Huguenot "resistance theory" was laid among Protestant refugee reformers from a variety of backgrounds and found its echoes later in the sixteenth century among Catholics who were themselves similarly at odds with French monarchical authority. And, although French Protestants had a political assembly that met on an irregular basis to provide credibility to its military and financial organization, it was never the basis for a republican movement. In reality French Huguenots continued to adhere to the principles of monarchy, even though they preferred (like many of their Catholic counterparts) to see it in less than absolutist terms. Their great spokesman and one-time advisor to Henry IV, Philippe Duplessis Mornay, repeatedly defended his coreligionists against those who accused them of wanting to set up a "state within a state," to "diminish royal authority," or "establish a democracy." A comparable distillation, that the Huguenots stood for the principle of religious toleration, has also to be seen as something of a retrospective myth, born of the inevitable apologetic of a minority religious movement and incarnated by the Enlightenment and liberal nineteenth-century historiography.

What was the name of the French Protestants who formed the French Reformed Church?

Huguenot was the popular term for French Protestants—the men and women who formed the French Reformed Church—from the mid-sixteenth through eighteenth centuries. The word’s origins are unclear and contested. Opponents initially used it as a slur. Only gradually did Huguenot become the accepted designation for a French Calvinist. The Reformation had an early, forceful impact on France, and by the 1550s the Calvinist or Reformed tradition dominated. Reformed Protestantism, inspired by the Frenchman John Calvin and his ecclesiastical reorganization of the francophone city of Geneva, spread quickly throughout the realm. The growth of the Huguenot community provoked strong Catholic and monarchial reaction. Religious warfare erupted in 1562 and the turmoil devastated France for nearly forty years.

What were the reasons for the migration of French Protestants to America?

The Edict of Nantes, promulgated in 1598 and revoked in 1685, guaranteed limited religious toleration for Protestants. Even before the Edict of Nantes, however, some individuals close to the government realized that Protestants might be in danger. As early as the 1560s French Huguenots looked to the New World as a potential area for settlement. Unfortunately, they chose places claimed by Spain and were thus seen as threats by the Spanish. In 1562 a small group built Charles fort on what is now Parris Island, South Carolina, but abandoned the site shortly thereafter. In 1564 – 1565, 900 Huguenots tried to establish a colony near what is now Jacksonville, Florida. They were discovered and routed by a Spanish fleet, thus ending French Protestant attempts to set up their own separate colonies. Those who came to America in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, after toleration was abolished, would join already ongoing English colonies.

What Did The Huguenots Believe?

Its message of grace through faith in Christ alone quickly spread to France as well. The Huguenots were a fast-growing, religious minority in France (1 in 10 Frenchmen considered themselves a Huguenot. Up to 2 million people), where the Roman Catholic Church was the predominant religion. They adhered to the Reformed, Evangelical or Calvinist view of Protestantism which was less common among the French. Protestant beliefs rejected the corruptions and abuses that infested the medieval Roman Catholic Church’s belief system and resembled those of the many other Protestant strains that were expanding throughout Europe at the time.

How many Huguenots were killed in 1562?

They were attacked by troops under the command of Francis, Duke of Guise. More than 60 Huguenots parishioners were killed and over 100 wounded.

Why were the Huguenots persecuted?

The Huguenots were persecuted by the French Catholic Church because of these beliefs. In fact, the persecutions of the Catholic Church often led to violence against French Huguenots. One event – the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre – led to thousands of Huguenot deaths in Paris and throughout the country.

What religion did the Huguenots practice?

The Huguenots were a religious minority in France, where the Roman Catholic Church was the predominant religion. They adhered to the Reformed or Calvinist strain of Protestantism which was less common among the French.

How many churches did the Huguenots have?

By 1562, there were approximately two million Huguenots worshipping in more than 2,000 churches throughout France. This was a big deal as it meant that ten percent in the total population were marching to the tune of a different drummer. Calvin’s teaching of salvation through faith in Christ alone was a bright star in a dark sky. Here was the pearl of great price that many were searching for. The frightful chains of ex-communication no longer held them like slaves in chains.

What was the motto of the French Protestants?

The motto of the French Protestants called Huguenots was “After The Darkness, The Light!” (Tenebras Lux). To them it was, “In God’s light we see light,” (Psalms 36:9). They believed they had all the spiritual light they needed in Christ alone and in the Scriptures alone.

How many people died in the Huguenots?

More than 60 Huguenots parishioners were killed and over 100 wounded. Like a lion smelling blood, it was only the beginning of an unholy crusade against all religious protesters (Protestants) A peace treaty followed, but the fragile peace could not hold.

Who Were the Huguenots?

The Edict of Nantes was a promise of religious toleration. It was granted in 1598 to the French Protestants known as Huguenots after years of civil wars. The Calvinist Huguenots came into being around 1550 when preachers brought Bibles to France from Switzerland. The growth of this reform movement in Gallic lands was astonishingly rapid. Within five years the new church held its first synod. Within a century it boasted a million and a half adherents.

What did the Huguenots do when the rebellion called the Fronde erupted?

Thus, when the rebellion called "the Fronde" erupted, the Huguenots refused to join their natural allies but instead supported the young Louis XIV. He in turn gravely acknowledged their loyalty and confirmed the Edict of Nantes. All the same, he did not want France divided in faith.

How many Huguenots were butchered?

Between 40,000 and 100,000 Huguenots were butchered in cold blood. Surviving Huguenots fled to their fortresses. A weary round of wars followed until the Huguenot prince, Henry of Navarre, became heir-elect to the throne of France. In order to gain the throne, Henry found he must convert to Catholicism. This he did.

What happens if a child converts to Catholicism?

If a child of fourteen converted from Protestantism to Catholicism, the child could leave its Huguenot parents who nonetheless must support it. Huguenots were forbidden to establish new colleges. For a Huguenot to attempt to leave France was made punishable by condemnation to the galleys.

How many churches did the Huguenots destroy?

His religious training, harsh upbringing, and cruel advisers led him to believe he could not be saved unless he wiped out heresy. He destroyed 570 of the Protestants’ 815 churches. Huguenots who met secretly in the woods were subject to savage reprisals and immediate death. One of the king’s officials protested.

How many US presidents are Huguenot?

A church near the White House in Washington, DC has a memorial that claims 21 US presidents are of Huguenot descent. The National Huguenot Society, more modest, maintains that eight can definitely be traced as Huguenot descendants. They are:

Why was conflict inevitable in the Catholic Church?

The Roman Catholic church was concerned at its loss of control over souls; the government feared Protestant demands for local rule. The government’s concerns certainly appeared justified when powerful nobles such as the Condés attempted to employ Protestant strength for their own political advancement against the powerful Guise family.

What are some of the best introductions to Huguenot history?

Surprisingly few general overviews of Huguenot history have been written. The best chronological introductions in French are Cabanel 2012 and the more succinct Boisson and Daussy 2006, while English readers may want to turn to Treasure 2013. There are, however, several excellent thematic essay collections on Huguenot history, including Benedict 2001, Mentzer and Spicer 2002, and Mentzer and van Ruymbeke 2016. Haag and Haag 1846–1859, although published in the 19th century, is still a valuable biographical resource for exploring Huguenots of name and fame.

What did the Huguenots do?

The Huguenots were French Reformed Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin. The term Huguenots was first coined as a Catholic insult, but it was adopted by French Protestants in the 18th century as a badge of honor. The precise origins of the name are uncertain. Some scholars have suggested it derives from the German word Eidgenossen (confederates bound together by an oath), while others believe the term originated in Tours, where, according to local legend, the spirit of the malevolent King Hugues roamed the city at night. Because Protestants initially assembled in secret under cover of darkness, they were dubbed Huguenots. The history of the Huguenots begins in the 1540s, when Calvin’s teachings found a receptive audience in France, especially among artisans, merchants, and the nobility. They established a formal church structure based on the Genevan consistorial system, with consistories responsible for local church affairs, while also setting up national synods for settling doctrinal affairs. By 1560 the Huguenot movement had gained over 1.5 million followers, particularly in cities and the crescent of provinces stretching from Poitou along the Atlantic coast, across Languedoc in the south, and into Dauphiné. Growing tensions between Protestants and Catholics sparked a series of civil wars known as the French Wars of Religion (1562–1598). The conflict ended when, in 1598, King Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes, which formalized a regime of religious coexistence by allowing Protestants to worship alongside Catholics, while also granting Huguenots civil rights and military autonomy. During the rule of King Louis XIV, however, the Huguenots came under increasing pressure to convert and had many of their rights annulled. In 1685 the king revoked the Edict of Nantes and forced the Huguenots to convert to Catholicism through brutal persecution. The Revocation provoked one of the largest migration waves of the early modern period, as an estimated 150,000 Huguenots fled to Switzerland, Germany, the Dutch Republic, the British Isles, and the American colonies, forming a transnational diaspora that is often referred to as the Refuge. Although the history of the Huguenots has long been written as a heroic story of ongoing persecution, in recent years scholars have begun to paint a more nuanced picture of the Huguenot movement, exploring the many religious, cultural, social, and political aspects of this important Protestant minority in early modern Europe.

How many essays are there in Huguenot?

This collection of sixteen well-written essays offers a superb introduction to key themes in Huguenot history, covering both France and the diaspora. Contributions focus on such diverse topics as the role of women, Huguenot art, the ministry, diaspora networks, and the tradition of martyrdom.

Did John Calvin use Masonic hand signs?

John Calvin studied with Ignatius Loyola the founder of the Jesuits at College Montaigu in Paris.

What are these 3 arches?

We are told that they symbolise the Holy Trinity; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. But this is not true. These 3 arches are actually called a Triptych. The occult meaning behind the Triptych is as follows:

How many arches are there in the Huguenot crest?

If you look at my original picture of the Huguenots crest and the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek you will notice there are 3 arches that surround the Huguenots crest and 3 arches that surround the woman standing on the earth. Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek. Huguenot Crest.

What are the traits of the Huguenots?

The Huguenots are characterised by their intrinsic pride, diligence and honesty. Although they strove to maintain their own identify at first, they soon intermarried with the other colonists to fully become just South Africans. Within two generations even their home language, French, largely disappeared.

What does the cross with the eight points mean?

This makes an eight-pointed cross with no curved lines. The eight outer points of this cross are symbolic of regeneration, and are sometimes said to represent the eight beatitudes.

What is the legacy of John Calvin?

The Legacy of John Calvin – Part 2. The Legacy of John Calvin – Part 1. Calvinists Justify the Known Murderer, John Calvin. In the following articles it has been shown that the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, since the beginning of it’s history has been Calvinistic and Masonic.

Why do we have amnesia of our immortal godhood self?

The problem is, we have amnesia of our immortal godhood Self (capital S) because it is covered up by our mortal animal bodily self (lowercase s) while we live our lives on earth…

What were the Protestants called in the 17th century?

The French-speaking Protestants who fled from religious persecution and civil war on the continent are all loosely referred to as Huguenots, however this term properly refers to only those from France, and not to the Walloons from the Low Countries. However, it is often impossible to distinguish the two groups because of the shared language and churches as well as much intermarriage in the early communities in England. Their beliefs were Calvinistic and closest to the English Presbyterian style of church government. Some of the late 17th century Huguenot congregations adopted the Anglican litany translated into French and these were termed conformist Huguenots. Others maintained the Calvinistic style they had used in France and have been called nonconformist Huguenots, although they should be distinguished from the English Nonconformists.

What was the next time tongues-speaking movement arose?

Cevennes: After Montanus, the next time any significant tongues-speaking movement arose was with the Cevennol Prophets of the seventeenth century. The Cevennol prophets likewise were outside of the church – their primary emphasis was on politics and the military. Converts of Camisards, England.

How many years of creativity in Soho?

400 Years of Creativity In Soho: The Huguenots, How It All Began (SohoCreate 2014) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpAd4epZ_mk

What were the French refugees called?

It must also be born in mind that there was a further wave of French refugees, known as the emigrés , mainly upper class and Catholic, entering England from 1789-1814 at and after the French Revolution (circa 1789-1795). Lists of the groups of these that came, but with no union index of names, are on FHL fiche 6035980 (1). The Hampshire Record Office have recently acquired a series of their letters giving graphic details of their escape and struggles.

How many Protestants were there in 1547-1553?

1547-1553 – by this period, surveys revealed about 40,000 French Protestants in London; French Protestantism spreads to England with French and Dutch church established at Austin Friars (London)

What language did the Flemish people speak?

Flemish Migrations. The Protestant immigrants from Flanders and Brabant spoke Flemish, a Dutch dialect, and can thus easily be confused with Dutch settlers. Edward III (1327-1377) encouraged the Flemish to settle in England, as he valued their silk and other textile skills.

How long did it take for immigrants to assimilate?

The communities were close-knit and some maintained the French language into the 19th century. Sociological studies show that it takes three generations for immigrants to totally assimilate, and most families had joined the Anglican Church or other Nonconformist groups by at least 1800.