Louis XIV and the Church: disputes with the papacy; persecution of Jansenists; policies towards Huguenots and the Revocation Edict of 1685
Louis XIV fought to control religion in France on three fronts. He clashed with the Pope over church authority, suppressed the Jansenist movement inside Catholicism, and ultimately stripped French Protestants of their legal rights.
Real World
The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) triggered the flight of roughly 200,000 skilled Huguenot craftsmen, silk weavers, and financiers to England, Prussia, and the Dutch Republic — directly strengthening France's economic rivals, a self-inflicted wound Colbert had warned against.
Exam Focus
When evaluating the Revocation, always address both short-term religious unity and the long-term economic and diplomatic damage for a balanced argument.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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