Louis XIV ran into several problems as he began to develop and execute his absolutist reign. One of the obstacles he encountered was the church and its role in his role as supreme leader of France. Recalling that absolutism named Louis XIV ruler in matters of temporal and spiritual matters without the interference of limitation, Louis XIV came into conflict with the papacy concerning who reigned over France’s Catholic community. As a result, Louis XIV began to compromise in his role in France’s Catholic Church, known as the Gallican Church and subsequently began to treat France’s Protestant population, or Huguenots, more severely.
Louis XIV’s right to rule in France was a right given from God. Moreover, it was believed that as a recipient of God’s graces to rule, he was not subject to obedience to the See of Rome. Consequently his desire to rule in an absolutist fashion came into direct conflict with the role of the pope as head of Europe’s Catholics. He was allowed to appoint France’s bishops from a right known as regale. By choosing his own bishops, Louis XIV was allowed to place loyal subjects into positions of power which gave the crown access to vast sums of money and land. In order to continue this control over Catholic money and land, Louis XIV needed to appease the pope in Rome.
The first way that the French crown appealed to papacy’s favor was by the Declaration of the Clergy of France, 1682. According to the declaration, “That Saint Peter and his successors, vicars of Jesus Christ [the popes], and the entire church have received their power from God alone in spiritual matters that concern salvation matters, that concern salvation, but not in temporal and civil matters…” (Beik 177). Not only did the Gallican Church now have clear outlined dispensation to treat the spiritual matters of the French people, Louis XIV was free to concern himself with only matters of state. In addition, the declaration also stated, “…that the church of France does not condone the opinions of those who attack these decrees or weaken them by saying that their authority is not well established…” (Beik 177).
Drawing simple lines that distinguished the Catholic Church’s authority from that of the Sun King was not enough to pacify the pope. Pope Innocent XI required that France proactively persecute France’s non-Catholics in order to force their conversion. Louis XIV began his attack on the Huguenots by dissolving temples and nunneries that promoted the Protestant faith. One important piece of legislation put into law was the repeal of Edict of Nantes on 25 October 1685. This act repealed the tolerance afforded to France’s protestant population by King Henry the Great. The act stated specifically that, “…subjects of the R.P.R. are not to assemble for worship in any place or house for any reason.” (Beik 194). In addition, converts to the Catholic Church were given specific incentives for their conversion such as becoming lawyers or doctors without any required schooling. The repeal also addressed the teaching of Protestant doctrines by stating, “Children of R.P.R. parents are to be baptized by the chief priests of their parishes and raised as Catholics, and local judges are to oversee this.” (Beik 195). Lastly, French Protestants were forbidden to leave the country or sell their land without proper permission.
To summarize, Louis XIV in order to function in an absolutist way needed to compromise his authority over France’s Catholics in order to retain the support of the papacy. Although Louis XIV maintained a tolerance of Protestantism in his laws, Protestants were anything but unprosecuted. Armed men known as Royal Dragoons were charged with harassing Protestants by invading their homes and consuming their food until conversion was settled. Before he died, Louis XIV was convinced to prosecute Protestants in order to attain absolution and gain entrance to heaven. One of the most interesting points taken from the document is when French Protestants fled to places such as London. The influx of Protestants in areas of know support such as England and Sweden demonstrate the threat perceived by the papacy.
Works Cited:
Beik, William. Louis XIV and Absolutism. Boston: Bedford, St. Martins, 2000.
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