Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643– 1715 (A-level only) – The…

The idea

Louis XIV’s religious policies aimed to enforce unity under the principle of 'one king, one law, one faith'. His pursuit of Gallicanism led to severe disputes with the papacy, notably over the régale (collecting revenues from vacant bishoprics) and the 1682 Gallican Articles, which asserted royal independence from papal temporal power. Domestically, Louis persecuted the Jansenists, an austere Catholic movement he suspected of political subversion, eventually destroying their Port-Royal base. His policies towards Protestant Huguenots escalated from the brutal dragonnades to the Edict of Fontainebleau (Revocation of the Edict of Nantes) in 1685. This outlawed Protestantism entirely, triggering a massive demographic and economic exodus of skilled workers.

What earns the marks

• Assess the motivations behind Louis XIV's disputes with the papacy, focusing on the assertion of Gallican liberties and the régale.
• Evaluate the political and religious reasons for the persecution of the Jansenists and the destruction of Port-Royal.
• Analyse the escalation of anti-Huguenot policies, from early restrictions and dragonnades to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
• Examine the domestic and international consequences of the 1685 Edict of Fontainebleau, particularly the economic impact of the Huguenot exodus.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing Jansenists with Protestants.

  Put it right: Jansenists were a Catholic reform movement that Louis viewed as politically subversive, not a separate Protestant denomination.

• Assuming the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes was universally condemned in France.

  Put it right: It was actually widely praised by the French Catholic majority at the time.

• Stating that the papacy supported Louis XIV's anti-Protestant crusade.

  Put it right: Pope Innocent XI actually disapproved of the violent methods used and was already alienated by the Gallican Articles.

Exam tips

• Connect Louis XIV's religious policies to his broader goal of absolutism, demonstrating how religious uniformity was seen as essential for political stability.
• Use the 1682 Gallican Articles as a key piece of evidence when discussing the tension between royal authority and papal supremacy.
• Consider the international context, such as the threat of a Protestant coalition, when evaluating the timing and impact of the 1685 Revocation.