Editing French Wars of Religion (section)

== Aftermath ==
{{Main|Huguenot rebellions}}
[[File:Soubise 12 15 Septembre 1625.jpg|thumb|The French royal fleet [[Capture of Ré island|captures the Île de Ré]], a Huguenot stronghold]]
Although the Edict of Nantes concluded the fighting during Henry&nbsp;IV's reign, the political freedoms it granted to the Huguenots (seen by detractors as "a state within the state") became an increasing source of trouble during the 17th century. The damage done to the [[Huguenots]] meant a decline from 10% to 8% of the French population.<ref>Hans J. Hillerbrand, ''Encyclopedia of Protestantism: 4-volume Set'', paragraphs "France" and "Huguenots"; Hans J. Hillerbrand, an expert on the subject, in his Encyclopedia of Protestantism: 4-volume Set claims the Huguenot community reached as much as 10% of the French population on the eve of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, declining to 8% by the end of the 16th century, and further after heavy persecution began once again with the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis&nbsp;XIV of France.</ref> The decision of King [[Louis XIII of France|Louis&nbsp;XIII]] to reintroduce Catholicism in a portion of southwestern France prompted a Huguenot revolt. By the [[Peace of Montpellier]] in 1622, the fortified Protestant towns were reduced to two: [[La Rochelle]] and [[Montauban]]. Another war followed, which concluded with the [[Siege of La Rochelle]], in which royal forces led by [[Cardinal Richelieu]] blockaded the city for fourteen months. Under the 1629 Peace of La Rochelle, the ''brevets'' of the Edict (sections of the treaty that dealt with military and pastoral clauses and were renewable by [[letters patent]]) were entirely withdrawn, though Protestants retained their prewar religious freedoms.{{sfn|Holt|2005|pp=186–192}}

[[File:RichelieuRochelle.jpg|thumb|[[Cardinal Richelieu|Richelieu]], depicted at the 1627–1628 [[Siege of La Rochelle]], put an end to the political and military autonomy of the [[Huguenot]]s,<ref name=Britannica/> while preserving their religious rights.]]

Over the remainder of Louis XIII's reign, and especially during the minority of [[Louis XIV of France|Louis&nbsp;XIV]], the implementation of the Edict varied year by year. In 1661 Louis&nbsp;XIV, who was particularly hostile to the Huguenots, started assuming control of his government and began to disregard some of the provisions of the Edict.<ref name=Britannica/> In 1681, he instituted the policy of [[dragonnade]]s, to intimidate Huguenot families to convert to Roman Catholicism or emigrate. Finally, in October&nbsp;1685, Louis issued the [[Edict of Fontainebleau]], which formally revoked the Edict and made the practice of Protestantism illegal in France. The revocation of the Edict had very damaging results for France.<ref name=Britannica>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/402718/Edict-of-Nantes |title=Edict of Nantes |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=5 April 2013}}</ref> While it did not prompt renewed religious warfare, many Protestants chose to leave France rather than convert, with most moving to the [[Kingdom of England]], [[Brandenburg-Prussia]], the [[Dutch Republic]], [[Switzerland]] and the Americas.{{sfn|Holt|2005|p=193}}<ref>[[Jackson J. Spielvogel|Spielvogel]], ''Western Civilization – Volume II: Since 1500'' (5th ed., 2003) p. 410</ref>

At the dawn of the 18th century, Protestants remained in significant numbers in the remote [[Cévennes]] region of the [[Massif Central]]. This population, known as the [[Camisard]]s, revolted against the government in 1702, leading to fighting that continued intermittently until 1715, after which the Camisards were largely left in peace.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}