John Calvin's Theory Of The Protestant Reformation

In 1536 a man by the name of John Calvin authored a book titled, “Institutes of the Christian Religion.” In this incredibly detailed theological work, Calvin outlines and defines the doctrines and systematic theology of the Protestant faith. Prior to the release of Calvin’s book, there were little to no reformation movements that were operating on a large scale in the nation of France. But as the impact of Calvin’s work began to grow, there became a growing mass of followers interested in the biblical framework Calvin highlighted. One group, the Huguenots were followers of Calvin and soon began to take steps in starting a Protestant Reformation within the nation of France. The influence of the newly founded Reformation began to grow steadily

A couple decades later, in the 1640’s, the reign of Louis XIV took over the French leadership. Louis XIV took the persecution and pressure on the Protestant population to a whole new level. Louis XIV aggressively opposed the Protestant followers and did numerous things to force them to convert back to the Catholicism and denounce their loyalty to the Protestants. Initially, Louis XIV sent out simple missionaries into Protestant areas and told them that if there could be significant financial gain to be made if Protestants would convert to becoming Catholics once again. This method was no welcomed with a lot of success and so in response to that King Louis XIV led a much more consequential method in an effort to convert more Huguenots to the Catholic Church. He began to impose certain penalties around the Protestant population if they would not recommit their faith away from the reformation that they had committed themselves to. In addition to this Louis ordered the closing of Huguenot schools and establishments that the Protestant people had built to support their society. Throughout all these methods that Louis XIV instituted, he grew increasingly frustrated and agitated with the Huguenots and it was only a matter of time until he resorted to increasingly aggressive methods in forcing the Protestant followers to convert. He ordered military troops to invade and loot numerous establishments and homes that were owned by Protestant followers. He did this in an effort to forcibly convert them back to believing and placing loyalty back in the Catholic Church. Louis XIV continued this aggressive persecution of the Huguenots when he did away with the Edict of Nantes. He signed a document formally named the Edict of Fountainebleau which, as mentioned, revoked the previous Edict of Nantes that supported the Protestants and even went so far to even make