BELFAST RB BOOKLET 2020 - Flipbook - Page 96
Ci t y of Belf ast Grand Bl ack Chapt er - Dem onst rat i on Bookl et 2020
Although much intermittent persecution
continued against Protestants even while
the edict was in effect, Calvinists were
permitted to gather in worship, build their
temples, ordain the clergy, administer the
sacraments and marry, but only where it
was considered legal for them to do so.
Difficulty again began to arise,
however when the Huguenots became
a more visible part of French society,
many even occupying positions in the
government, as well. However if any
Those who remained settled together in
attempt was made to expand through an area which came to be known as 'The
proselytizing (trying to convert others to Desert' a south western area of the Canaan
Protestantism) or migrating into Catholic patios of French Protestants.
regions, then they were soon reigned in.
Now there is an established Musee du
However when the Edict was later revoked Desert commemorating the many difficult
by Henry's grandson Louis XIV (known as the years they had to endure. The Museum is
Sun King) in 1685, and replaced by the Edict situated in the Cevennes, an area of heavily
of Fontainebleau, the new laws officially made wooded mountains with a long history of both
Protestantism illegal whereby it either forced resistance to outside authority and of helping
Protestant ministers to convert to Roman the down trodden.
Catholicism or flee the country. However that
It was the French Calvinists who used the
too was outlawed so as to prohibit the name around 1560, and two years later
emigration of the Huguenot lay masses.
there was an estimated two million
In essence, what the revocation tried to Huguenot worshippers in more than two
accomplish was the total eradication of thousand church buildings scattered
Protestantism in France and the authorities throughout France with the first
believed that once the Huguenot clergy associated temple created about five years
were eliminated, then the pastorless earlier within a private home near Paris.
churches would easily compromise and
Although the origin of the name Huguenot is
convert to Roman Catholicism.
unknown it is believed to have been derived
Many in fact did so, and soon became from combining phrases in German and
known as .. nouveau catholiques .. however Flemish that described their practice of home
despite the leaving ban, many Huguenots worship.
preferred emigration to persecution.
After the 1685 revocation oppression
from the Parisian authorities soon followed
whereby soldiers known as the
Dragonnades were ordered into the homes
of Protestant families to physically harass
them (top).
Thousands of Protestants were put to
the sword irrespective of age or gender,
including many families, all slaughtered
together in their own homes.
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN - 94 - AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING