The Edict of Nantes (1598) was revoked in October 1685 by the Edict of Fontainebleau.
But first, for nearly sixty years, it has been slowly eroded. After 1620, ten years after death of Henry 1V, under the regency of Marie de Medici, then under Louis XIII and Richelieu, the provisions of the Edict of Nantes are no longer respected. Protestants are forced to gradually give up their rights. Bluche Francis, in his book Louis XIV (Fayard, 1986), § "The persecution of heretics," in Chapter XXI, "National unity, religious unity," p 598 and following, review all laws, policies, edicts that preceded the reign of Louis XIV's edict of Fontainebleau, which enshrines the law a "state of affairs." Since that date, it is supposed no longer be any Protestants in the kingdom, the law granted to them by the Edict of Nantes has no raison d'etre. In October 1685, Louis XIV forbade the public exercise of the "RPR" and requires pastors who would not converted within two weeks, to leave France. Protestant children were baptized, educated and reared in the Roman religion, and to recover their property, migrants have a period of four months. The prohibitions are recalled to emigrate "just for men in the galleys and confiscation of body and goods for women."
Many Protestants hostile measures were taken between 1659 and 1664: the temples were destroyed or closed, a few remaining clauses of the Edict of Nantes was interpreted "strictly speaking, Catholic missions were sent to cities and villages remained faithful to the Reformation, a credit conversion has awarded bonuses to the Protestants who, renouncing, faced obstacles of money, Bibles and catechisms were intended to Protestants. It
in 1679 saw the start of persecution themselves: severe penalties provided cons and the renegade apostates, abjurations regulated in a binding manner, suppression of rooms mid-portions of the parliaments of Toulouse and Grenoble, to ban any Catholic to a Protestant. In November, a royal act calls on judges to get to the bedside to try to convert them. The profession of midwifery is prohibited Protestant. In 1681, Louvois authorizes the Poitou dragonnades: the obligation to house soldiers is imposed on Protestants, the "new converts" being exempted for two years. In June, the king decided that the children of Protestants will choose Catholicism at the age of 7 years, depending on the age of reason the Church, and that parents have no right to be educated abroad. In 1681 and 1682, the dragonnades multiply. The clauses of the Edict of Nantes are applied more and more restrictive. During the summer, the temples were demolished for two or three a week. The Protestant bastards must be reared according to the principles of Catholic authority. Any migration is forbidden to sailors and craftsmen Protestants. Access to the professions of lawyer, attorney, judicial officer, sergeant, assistant assessor, and justice is not the Protestants. It is prohibited to Protestants to leave the kingdom, property offenders are confiscated. They are forbidden to assemble outside the temples and without the presence of pastors. Are assigned to hospitals goods they have donated or bequeathed to the poor. In March 1682, provides an edict banning of any reform minister who had received a Catholic convert. From May, in each temple is a place reserved for police informants of the king. In June, it was decided that the children of new converts were instructed in the Catholic religion. In 1684, legislation took place: ban private worship or illegal, prohibition against pastors to exercise more than three years in one place: the Presbytery is reduced pace: they can be held in the presence of a royal judge. Protestants can not be selected as experts. Reformed worship is banned in the communities that comprise less than ten families. In 1685, the competence of some judges reformed according to the parliament of Metz is limited, there are penalties against pastors "who are suffering in the temples of the people that the king has forbidden to accept" the French have more the right to marry abroad to places of worship where the pastors have officiated at many marriages are destroyed, and the Protestants have no right to initiate servants Catholics are prohibited from being clerks judge or lawyer, then the bar is forbidden. They can not attend worship outside the bailiwick of their residence. They are forbidden to preach, to write works of controversy, publishing books on theology. The medical profession is forbidden them, the pastors can not remain within six miles of the prohibited places of worship. Protestant children may not have guardians as Catholics. Half the property of emigrants is vested in their wrongdoings.
In 1665, in Queyras, nearly two hundred heads of families have abjured, making fact waive their families to the Reformation: "Many Catholic missionaries had been sent in Queyras, assisted by the priests, the royal power and the lure of benefits that were made to the converted, they had some success (Tivolier, Queyras, op cited, p. 387). To the chagrin of his co-religionists, a pastor Abriès back into the fold of the Church. In 1681, the two consuls Abriès which for a century, were selected among Protestants are Catholics again.
Four years later, in 1685, the temples were razed Queyras. Pastors of Arvieux and shelter rather prefer to go abroad that adjure. Many faithful followers. This is the beginning of a significant emigration of Protestant Queyrassins to Switzerland and the Palatinate in Germany. Protestants of the Dauphiné, from Veynes, Gap, Embrun, through the Queyras to reach Switzerland by the Waldensian valleys of Piedmont and trying to avoid the very Catholic Savoy. In August and September 1685, a regiment confined in the Queyras. The soldiers were ordered to abjure the population. Just as the believer is a sign in a church for conversion is established. According to Abbe Pierre Berge, "Some Protestants pretended conversion, but the timing they chose emigrate and abandon their property rather than practicing the Catholic religion to which they had acceded to that mouth and within the scope of threats "(quoted by E. Bellon, in Scattered to the winds, p 39).
In October 1685, when the Edict of Nantes is revoked, the troops are kept in the Queyras. Their maintenance is charged to residents. The church of Saint-Pierre Abriès is restored, enlarged and beautified. Increasingly many Protestants who choose to emigrate. Between 1685 and 1690, some three hundred people leaving shelter for residence in Switzerland or Germany. Often their goods are confiscated and given to firm to good Catholics.
In the eighteenth century, there were some Protestants in the shelter and hamlets in the valley and Molines Arvieux. Like other Protestants of the kingdom, they worship in a clearing in a meadow or withdrawn. The edict of tolerance signed by Louis XVI in 1787 makes Protestants freedom of worship.
