View source for Edict of Saint-Germain

{{Short description|1562 French decree on religious tolerance}}
[[File:Catherine de Médicis - entourage de François Clouet.jpg|thumb|Catherine de' Medici]]

[[File:Edict of Saint-Germain.png|alt=Front page of the Edict of Saint Germain, with flowing French writing on it.|thumb|First page of the Edict of Saint Germain]]
{{Campaignbox French Wars of Religion}}
The '''Edict of Saint-Germain''' ({{Langx|fr|édit de tolérance de Saint-Germain}}), also known as the '''Edict of January''' ({{Lang|fr|Édit de janvier}}), was a landmark [[edict of toleration|decree of tolerance]] promulgated by the regent of [[France]], [[Catherine de' Medici]], in January 1562. The edict provided limited tolerance to the Protestant [[Huguenots]] in the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] realm, though with counterweighing restrictions on their behaviour. The act represented the culmination of several years of slowly liberalising edicts which had begun with the 1560 [[Edict of Amboise (1560)|Edict of Amboise]]. After two months the [[Parlement of Paris|Paris Parlement]] would be compelled to register it by the rapidly deteriorating situation in the capital. The practical impact of the edict would be highly limited by the subsequent outbreak of the first [[French Wars of Religion]] but it would form the foundation for subsequent toleration edicts as the [[Edict of Nantes]] of 1598.

== Prior legislation ==
During the reign of King [[Henry II of France|Henry II]], Protestantism had been subject to persecution in France under the Edicts of [[Edict of Châteaubriant|Chateaubriant]], [[Edict of Ecouen|Ecouen]], and [[Edict of Compiègne|Compiègne]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Knecht|first=Robert|title=The French Wars of Religion 1559–1598|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2002|isbn=1841763950|pages=22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Holt|first=Mack|title=The French Wars of Religion 1562–1629|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2005|isbn=9780521547505|pages=41}}</ref> This legislation aimed to correct what Henry felt was lax enforcement of prior heresy laws by the local courts, through the re-establishment of the [[Chambre Ardente]] and the sending out of special commissioners to take charge of the local court cases.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780199596799|pages=110}}</ref>

With the unexpected early death of Henry II during a joust in 1559, this new program of persecution was put on hold, as first the sickly [[Francis II of France|Francis II]] and then [[Charles IX of France|Charles IX]] became king.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Knecht|first=Robert|title=The French Wars of Religion 1559–1598|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2002|isbn=1841763950|pages=21–29}}</ref> Already in the reign of Francis II a new approach began to be forged, with the 1560 [[Edict of Amboise (1560)|Edict of Amboise]], which pardoned those convicted of religious offenses on the condition they went on to live good Catholic lives.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Knecht|first=Robert|title=The French Wars of Religion 1559–1598|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2002|isbn=1841763950|pages=26}}</ref> The further legislation of the [[Edict of Romorantin]] in May later that year moved the trial of heresy cases to the purview of the ecclesiastical courts, which did not have the authority to impose death penalties.<ref name=":0" />

This was followed in July 1561, during the reign of Francis' brother Charles IX, with the [[Edict of July]], which reaffirmed Romarantin's move of heresy cases to the ecclesiastical courts and removed the penalty of corporal punishment for heresy, alongside prohibiting investigation of neighbours' houses to find heretical services.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780199596799|pages=148}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=James|title=The Wars of Religion in France 1559–1576: The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Phillip II|publisher=Chicago University Press|year=1909|pages=103}}</ref>

== The road to Saint-Germain ==
In the wake of the [[Conspiracy of Amboise]], a failed attempt by several prominent Huguenots to seize power, the urgency of the need for religious peace was heightened. It was to this end that [[Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine]] announced plans for a national religious council to reconcile the two faiths.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780199596799|pages=136}}</ref>

Later that year, in an [[1560 Assembly of Notables|Assembly of Notables]] at [[Fontainebleau]], the Moyenneur faction aimed to put forward a program of [[Gallicanism|Gallican]] reforms to quell the abuses of the Catholic church that had angered the Protestants, allowing the faiths to reunify.<ref name=":1" /> This attempt would prove naïve, as the Protestant [[Louis, Prince of Condé (1530–1569)|Louis, Prince of Condé]] came forward with a counterproposal for the two faiths to exist alongside one another, throwing the meeting into disarray.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780199596799|pages=137}}</ref> The assembly was however able to endorse plans for a national council to solve the religious question, endorsed in a royal edict on August 31, 1560.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sutherland|first=Nicola|title=Princes Politics and Religion 1547–1589|publisher=The Hambledon Press|year=1984|isbn=9780907628446|pages=124}}</ref>

On June 12, 1561, the decision was made to summon the national council on July 20.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sutherland|first=Nicola|title=Princes Politics and Religion 1547–1589|publisher=The Hambledon Press|year=1984|isbn=9780907628446|pages=133}}</ref> It would however be delayed and not open until September 9.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sutherland|first=Nicola|title=Princes Politics and Religion 1547–1589|publisher=The Hambledon Press|year=1984|isbn=9780907628446|pages=136}}</ref> The meeting which became known as the [[Colloquy of Poissy]] would be a failure, with the [[Calvinism|Calvinists]] under [[Theodore Beza]] unwilling to subscribe to the [[Confession of Augsburg]] proposed by Lorraine.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Knecht|first=Robert|title=The French Wars of Religion 1559–1598|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2010|isbn=9781408228197|pages=32}}</ref> Frustrated with the failures of the colloquy, Catherine appealed to [[Rome]] instead for doctrinal concessions regarding the taking of the [[Eucharist]] in both kinds.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Knecht|first=Robert|title=The French Wars of Religion 1559–1598|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2010|isbn=9781408228197|pages=33}}</ref> This too came to nought.

Unfazed by all this failure, Catherine arranged for carefully chosen moderate deputies from the various [[Parlement]]s of France to attend a conference at [[Saint-Germain-en-Laye]] where they would eventually draw up the edict on January 17, 1562.<ref name=":2" /> Alongside two liberal representatives of each Parlement, members of the ''conseil privé'' and order of St Michael were invited.<ref name=":14">{{Cite book|last=Roelker|first=Nancy|title=One King One Faith: The Parlement of Paris and the Religious Reformation of the Sixteenth Century|publisher=University of California press|year=1996|isbn=0520086260|pages=263}}</ref> The Paris Parlement sent the famous liberal [[Christophe de Thou|de Thou]] and the elderly cleric Viole.<ref name=":14" /> While the Guises and the [[Anne de Montmorency|Constable]] boycotted the event, [[Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon (born 1523)|Cardinal Bourbon]] and [[François de Tournon|Tournon]] would attend, alongside [[François de Montmorency]] and the triumvir [[Jacques d'Albon, Seigneur de Saint André|Saint André]].<ref name=":14" /> The proceedings were led by [[Michel de l'Hôpital]] who tackled the subject of religion head on with the assembly, in contrast to prior laws where the notion of public order had been emphasised.<ref name=":14" />

The edict written, it would be delivered to the Paris Parlement on January 23.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book|last=Roelker|first=Nancy|title=One King One Faith: The Parlement of Paris and the Religious Reformation of the Sixteenth Century|publisher=University of California Press|year=1996|isbn=0520086260|pages=265}}</ref>

== Terms ==
=== Introduction ===
The edict was intended to be only a provisional solution to the religious problem, pending the hopefully-reconciliatory outcome of the general church [[Council of Trent]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=James|title=The Wars of Religion in France 1559–1576: The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Phillip II|publisher=Chicago University Press|year=1909|pages=129}}</ref> The edict made clear that it was not to be taken as approval of the 'new religion' but a necessary expedient for as long as the king willed it.<ref name=":3" /> The king stated that he had come to see it as necessary because of the provisional nature of the edict of July and on the recommendation of his uncle [[Antoine of Navarre]] the princes, the privy councillors and the chief magistrates of the ''Parlements''.<ref name=":20">{{Cite book|last=Potter|first=David|title=The French Wars of Religion: Selected Documents|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=1997|isbn=0333647998|pages=31–33}}</ref>

=== Parameters of worship ===
It outlined the spaces and times in which Protestant worship could occur: not in towns or under arms or at night.<ref name=":3" /> It could not take place in buildings that had been consecrated as Catholic churches.<ref name=":3" /> Sermons could not be held by itinerant preachers within a city.<ref name=":20" /> Exceptions were made for noble estates upon which the faith could be practiced freely.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Holt|first=Mack|title=The French Wars of Religion 1562–1629|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2005|isbn=9780521547505|pages=47}}</ref> Further services could be held within towns in houses if they were only for the members of the household.<ref name=":14" /> The crown superseded its previous edict of July such that when Protestants met outside of towns, they were not to be troubled by men of any quality. If people sought to do them harm during their comings and goings, magistrates had to intervene and punish them.<ref name=":20" />

The king's officers were always to be granted access to the sites of worship if they requested entry.<ref name=":3" /> A pastor was obligated to inquire into the identity of attendees of a Protestant service so that they could be handed over to the authorities easily if they needed to be arrested.<ref name=":20" />

=== Other terms === 
Protestants would not be allowed to levy taxes towards their religious buildings, and would have to rely on voluntary donations.<ref name=":3" /> The political law of the Roman church as it related to marriage and holidays was to be maintained by them, and they were to return any property they had acquired or stolen from the Catholics in the course of the last few troubled years.<ref name=":3" /> There could be no creation of laws or magistrates among the Protestants independent from the crowns and Catholic church's offices.<ref name=":20" /> All Protestant synods were to occur either with the permission or attendance of the Lieutenant-General of the respective province.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=James|title=The Wars of Religion in France 1559–1576: The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Phillip II|publisher=Chicago University Press|year=1909|pages=130}}</ref> Reproachful language against the Catholic church was made a misdemeanour.<ref name=":4" /> [[Iconoclasm]] and sedition were to be punished with death.<ref name=":14" /> Likewise death sentences for distributing prohibited books.<ref name=":14" /> Priests were required to swear to uphold this edict, and were ordered not to manufacture further heresies or preach contrary to the [[Nicene Creed]].<ref name=":20" /> Clergy of either faith were forbidden from inciting their flocks to violence.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Roelker|first=Nancy|title=One King One Faith: The Parlement of Paris and the Religious Reformations of the Sixteenth Century|publisher=University of California Press|year=1996|isbn=0520086260|pages=264}}</ref>

== Registration and resistance ==

=== Paris Parlement ===
The Paris Parlement resisted the registering of the edict, a necessary prerequisite to it becoming law, and remonstrated against the crown.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Diefendorf|first=Barbara|title=Beneath the Cross: Catholics and Huguenots in Sixteenth-Century Paris|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1991|isbn=0195070135|pages=62}}</ref> They were backed in their disapproval by the city council, the clergy and the [[Sorbonne University|Sorbonne.]]<ref name=":5" /> They were buoyed in their opposition to the edict by the fact their pay was in arrears, which they saw as useful leverage against registering.<ref name=":15" />

====Edict examined====
The edict was read before the assembled Parlement on January 24 in the presence of Marshal Montmorency and [[Antoine of Navarre]],<ref name=":15" /> with an implied threat that the Parlement should register it immediately.<ref name=":15" /> Even the moderate Parlementaires did not accept this, however, and both the ultra Le Maistre and moderate de Harley demanded copies of the edict, so they could apply proper scrutiny to it.<ref name=":15" /> Montmorency oversaw the printing of copies at the weekend and by the Monday several copies were in ''Parlementaire'' hands.<ref name=":15" /> The crown, eager to hurry these proceedings along, sent representatives every couple of days to the Parlement to keep up the pressure.<ref name=":15" /> On February 7, having voted, the Parlement announced they could not verify or publish the edict and would send a remonstrance to the crown.<ref name=":16">{{Cite book|last=Roelker|first=Nancy|title=One King One Faith: The Parlement of Paris and the Religious Reformations of the Sixteenth Century|publisher=University of California Press|year=1996|isbn=0520086260|pages=266}}</ref> To explain this de Thou and Viole were sent back to the crown.<ref name=":16" />

The remonstrance was drawn up on February 12 and signed by Le Maistre and Gayant.<ref name=":16" /> They argued in their remonstrance that the solution for disorder was to expel all Protestant pastors, dismissing the notion the Protestants were a sizeable enough minority as to require managing.<ref name=":16" /> On February 14 de Thou and Viole were harangued by the king, who explained that the court did not understand the situation of the country like the crown did. He gave assurances, however, that he would always remain a Catholic, and clarified a contentious passage of the bill relating to official attendance at Protestant services, as only being a police matter.<ref name=":16" />

==== Moderates defect ====
This in hand de Thou returned on February 16 to Parlement, announcing he now felt comfortable registering the edict. The other moderates, de Harlay and Baillet, concurred.<ref name=":17">{{Cite book|last=Roelker|first=Nancy|title=One King One Faith: The Parlement of Paris and the Religious Reformations of the Sixteenth Century|publisher=University of California Press|year=1996|isbn=0520086260|pages=267}}</ref> Yet even with the moderates on their side the crown's forces lacked a majority in the court, and the bill was voted down again on February 18.<ref name=":17" />

Catherine arrived in Paris on February 20, and summoned Viole, who explained that members of the court had suggestions on an alternative proposal.<ref name=":17" /> A meeting was arranged for February 23 to discuss this, though only 69 members were present, and they were largely on the conservative edge of the court.<ref name=":18">{{Cite book|last=Roelker|first=Nancy|title=One King One Faith: The Parlement of Paris and the Religious Reformations of the Sixteenth Century|publisher=University of California Press|year=1996|isbn=0520086260|pages=268}}</ref>

==== Counter proposal ====
The members of the Parlement opposing the edict suggested banning all Protestant services, exiling pastors, banning all non-Catholic property transactions, and making all royal officials sign a profession of faith.<ref name=":18" /> Catherine received this on February 25, and prepared her own response to be delivered by [[Charles, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon]].<ref name=":18" /> In this they argued the courts' proposal was simply impractical in the current situation, and that the Parlement was worsening the situation in the country, pushing the Protestants towards arming.<ref name=":18" /> Moreover, Charles highlighted other Parlements had already registered the edict and had seen disorder fall resultingly.<ref name=":18" /> On March 4 students rioted in the Palais de Justice, demanding the bill be registered and threatening to seize temples if they were not given any.<ref name=":18" />

==== Registration ====
All this finally pushed the Parlement into capitulating, with the ''avocat du roi'' du Mesnil who had led the opposition crossing the aisle to support it along with the ''gens du roi''.<ref name=":19">{{Cite book|last=Roelker|first=Nancy|title=One King One Faith: The Parlement of Paris and the Religious Reformations of the Sixteenth Century|publisher=University of California Press|year=1996|isbn=0520086260|pages=269}}</ref> On March 5 it was agreed to register the edict the following day. Five members, including Le Maistre and Saint-Andre, who led the courts' ultra wing, absented themselves from the final registration.<ref name=":19" /> The courts' approval was, moreover, disclaimed in the Parlement's secret register.<ref name=":19" />

=== Other Parlements ===
The [[Parlement of Rouen]] proved more malleable, and registered the edict on February 16.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=James|title=The Wars of Religion in France 1559-1576: The Huguenots, Catherine de Medici and Philip II|publisher=Chicago University Press|year=1909|pages=128}}</ref> The Parlement of Dijon refused to register the edict, and would not be compelled to prior to the outbreak of civil war, which rendered it a dead letter.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Holt|first=Mack|title=The Politics of Wine in Early Modern France: Religion and Popular Culture in Burgundy, 1477–1630|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|isbn=978-1108456814|pages=151}}</ref> The Parlement of Aix-en-Provence would prove particularly resistant to registering the edict, and would, after their continued resistance post-Amboise, have their most recalcitrant members dismissed from the Parlement.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Penny|title=Peace and Authority during the French Religious Wars c. 1560–1600|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137326744|pages=54}}</ref>

== Enforcement and resistance ==
Most of the princes of the realm opposed the edict, with the exceptions of the Prince of Condé, [[Antoine III de Croy]], Count of Porcien, and [[Charles, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|date=2013|title='Nager entre deax eaux': The Princes and the Ambiguities of French Protestantism|journal=The Sixteenth Century Journal|volume=44 4|pages=1015}}</ref> [[Antoine of Navarre]], who was [[Lieutenant-General (France)|Lieutenant-General]] of the Kingdom, voted against the edict in council, and appealed for Guise to return to Paris to aid his opposition.<ref name=":7" />

Several commissioners had been sent out into the regions of [[Guyenne]], [[Languedoc]] and [[Provence]] in late 1561, with the hopes of quieting the disorder that had engulfed the provinces over the previous year.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Penny|title=Peace and Authority during the French Religious Wars c. 1560–1600|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137326744|pages=52}}</ref> To achieve this they were given broad powers, and with the establishment of the Edict of Saint-Germain, they were tasked with ensuring its registration and enforcement in their respective areas.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Penny|title=Peace and Authority during the French Religious Wars c. 1560–1600|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137326744|pages=58}}</ref> They were provided with assistance from the lieutenant-governors of their respective provinces to offer support, alongside the ability to refer cases up to the court if they proved tricky to determine.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Penny|title=Peace and Authority during the French Religious Wars c. 1560–1600|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137326744|pages=53}}</ref>

=== Provence ===
In Provence, the commissioners Fumée and Ponnat were faced with the rebellious first consul Flassans, who had taken up arms and was terrorising the region's Protestants.<ref name=":6" /> He refused to meet the commissioners or disarm.<ref name=":6" /> With the authorities of Aix refusing entry to the commissioners they set themselves up at [[Marignane]] and called officers out to meet with them; only Flassans refused among the municipal officers.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Penny|title=Peace and Authority during the French Religious Wars|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137326744|pages=55–56}}</ref> The clergy capitulated and met with them on February 5.<ref name=":9" /> This allowed them access to the town and they set about working on their commission.<ref name=":9" /> After the defeat of Flassans in the field, it was decided not to prosecute his followers.<ref name=":9" /> In the meanwhile they set about replacing recalcitrant consulate members in April, though by September all of them had been let back into the political fold, including Flassans.<ref name=":9" /> Such were the difficulties enforcing the edict that Provence would be exempt from the [[Edict of Amboise]] regarding Protestant churches.<ref name=":9" />

=== Languedoc ===
In Languedoc the situation was reversed, and it was the task of the commissioners to restore the Catholic clergy to their office, and remove the Protestants from the churches they had occupied in the towns.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Penny|title=Peace and Authority during the French Religious Wars c. 1560–1600|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137326744|pages=57}}</ref> The Huguenots of [[Nîmes]] and [[Montpellier]] petitioned the commissioners to be allowed to continue private worship in the towns they occupied.<ref name=":10" /> In this task the commissioners were largely unsuccessful.<ref name=":10" />

=== Guyenne ===
In Guyenne, the commissioners Compaing and Girard were delayed in their arrival, and thus [[Blaise de Lasseran-Massencôme, seigneur de Montluc|de Montluc]] and de Burie oversaw the appointment of two replacement commissioners in their stead, who lacked the broad remit of the royally assigned ones.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Penny|title=Peace and Authority during the French Religious Wars c. 1560–1600|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137326744|pages=58–61}}</ref> The Bordeaux Parlement sought to interfere, arguing it had the local knowledge to better and more affordably provide justice in the region, despite this being the very thing the commissioners were trying to avoid.<ref name=":11" /> When Compaing and Girard finally arrived, they quickly became unpopular with the local nobility and Montluc, who perceived their decisions as favouring the Protestant party.<ref name=":11" /> Burie and Montluc argued against their interpretation of the Edict of Saint-Germain, saying it shouldn't introduce Huguenot ministers into areas they had not been in before.<ref name=":11" /> The Cardinal of Armagnac joined in these attacks on the commissioners claiming they had granted minister requests without consulting the local clergy (which was not a provision of Amboise.)<ref name=":11" /> With all these attacks they were finally dismissed from their offices.<ref name=":11" />

== Vassy and civil war ==
Having been called back to Paris by Navarre, [[Francis, Duke of Guise]] stopped en route on March 1 at the town of Vassy, which had become a Protestant stronghold in the largely Catholic countryside of Champagne.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0199229079|pages=13}}</ref> Enraged by the sound of Protestant bell ringing in the town, he and his company of gentlemen decided to enter, on the pretext of hearing mass.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0199229079|pages=16}}</ref> In the town he was further incensed to find that the Protestants were meeting in the castle district, which was on his property.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|last=Carroll|first=Stuart|title=Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0199229079|pages=17–18}}</ref>

Controversy arose later over the legality of the service Guise had encountered. While this meeting took place after the issuance of the Edict of Saint-Germain, it took place before the Parlement of Paris had been forced to register it.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Holt|first=Mack|title=The French Wars of Religion, 1562–1629|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1995|isbn=9780521358736|pages=48}}</ref>

Guise sent out a gentleman ahead of him, who got into an altercation at the door to the barn where the Protestants were worshipping. Violence ensued and, as Guise's company rushed forward, a [[Massacre of Vassy|massacre]] began, with 50 parishioners killed.<ref name=":12" /> Continuing onto Paris despite Catherine's orders for him to come to her and explain himself, he entered the city to a hero's welcome.<ref name=":13">{{Cite book|last=Knecht|first=Robert|title=The French Religious Wars 1562–1598|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2002|isbn=1841763950|pages=12}}</ref>

In the city Condé and his men were present, and thus a potential powder keg if he and Guise crossed paths. Recognising this, Catherine ordered both to vacate the city, but only Condé complied, heading to [[Orléans]] where he raised the standard of rebellion on April 2 beginning the first [[French Wars of Religion|French War of Religion]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Potter|first=David|title=The French Wars of Religion: Selected Documents|publisher=Macmillan|year=1997|isbn=0312175450|pages=73–75}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Edict of Fontainebleau]], 1685 revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV
* [[Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen]], 1789 civil rights document of the French Revolution

==Notes==
<references/>

==References==
*[http://www.uni-mannheim.de/mateo/camenaref/cmh/cmh301.html#001 Butler, A.J. ''The Wars of Religion in France'']: Chapter 1

{{Edicts and Treaties of the French Wars of Religion}}
{{Religious edicts of the Valois Monarchy}}

[[Category:1562 in law]]
[[Category:Edicts of the Ancien Régime|Saint-Germain]]
[[Category:Religion in the Ancien Régime]]
[[Category:French Wars of Religion]]
[[Category:History of Catholicism in France]]
[[Category:1562 in France]]
[[Category:Christianity and law in the 16th century]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Kingdom of France|Saint-Germain]]
[[Category:Catherine de' Medici]]
[[Category:1562 in Christianity]]
[[Category:1562 treaties]]
[[Category:Edicts of toleration]]