Discuss the comment on Louis XIV religious policy between 1661 and 1715 Essay Example
Discuss the comment on Louis XIV religious policy between 1661 and 1715 Essay Example

Discuss the comment on Louis XIV religious policy between 1661 and 1715 Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (375 words)
  • Published: July 31, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Although Louis demonstrated considerable skill during his reign, he also committed numerous mistakes. Perhaps the most egregious of these was the implementation of the Dragonades, a ruthless and unethical act that wreaked havoc on countless lives.

In an effort to eliminate the presence of Huguenots in Britain, Louis pursued various methods to convert them to his own religion, Catholicism. This approach was implemented gradually and in pieces. One tactic Louis employed was the billeting of troops in Huguenot households, which was intended to intimidate them into converting. Reports circulated of atrocities such as rape, pillaging, people being thrown into fires, and being torn apart by dogs. Even though Louis acknowledged that these stories were evidence of the military's lack of discipline, he endeavored to rectify the situation. The dragonade proved effe

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ctive, with 38,000 Huguenots converting to Catholicism within a year of its implementation.

The Huguenots made a mistake by allowing the army to eat their food and ruin their house. As a result, they were left impoverished. The Huguenots likely only pretended to convert to get the troops to leave. Louis XIV demonstrated great skill in appearing to compromise with the Pope in certain situations. In fact, compromising with the Pope sometimes helped Louis achieve his religious goals. However, Louis was forced to compromise because he could not continue to anger the Pope due to the strong Protestant alliance of foreign powers against him.

Despite the fact that Louis XIV's ability to get what he wanted was impressive, it was perceived as a way for him "to be seen as Defender of the true faith" and gain favour with the Pope after earlier disputes. One of

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Louis XIV's mistakes was implementing the Edict of Fontainbleu in 1685. This edict made it illegal for Huguenots to publicly worship, granted Huguenot ministers only 15 days to leave France, prohibited other Huguenots from leaving the country on penalty of death, and forced Huguenot children to receive a Catholic education instead of attending their own schools. The impact of this law was significant as "over 30,000 Huguenots emigrated, taking with them their skills and their capital," causing many towns to lose up to half of their workforce.

Louis had given his prime workforce to his competitors, resulting in this outcome.

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