from where and when did the Huguenots originate.?

Answer 1

The Protestant Reformation, begun by Martin Luther in the early 16th century in Germany, soon found its way to France. Fueled by the protests of Luther against the abuses of the Catholic Church, Protestantism grew rapidly in a country stringently ruled by a Catholic king and government. The reign of Francis I (1515-47) began the persecution of Protestants in France. By 1521 Lutheran ideas had sufficiently infiltrated France and they were condemned at the Sorbonne. Under Henry II (1547-59) the attack intensified with the formation of government policy which allowed for the trial and execution of heretics.

Many Protestants fled France in the 1540's and 1550's for assylum in Geneva; here they were strongly influenced by John Calvin. Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion (which he beautifully translated from his own Latin to French) formed the basis for Reform thought. In 1555 a Reformed church was officially, if secretly, founded in Paris; it was supported by the Genevan Compagnie des Pasteurs (Company of Pastors) which sent qualified ministers from Switzerland to France . The developing Protestant population, though called "Lutheran" in denegration by Catholics, was thoroughly Calvinist in theology .

Huguenots, as they began to be called, grew in number, meeting secretly but heavily proselytizing . As their size increased so also did the persecution. The first large scale riot of Catholics against Protestants took place in 1557 . Huguenots were viewed as seditious by the government desperately fighting the invading Hapsburgs of Spain . After the end of the Hapsburg-Valois wars, Henri II (now having more time on his hands) escalated the persecution of the Huguenots calling for arrests, executions, and even neighbor-on-neighbor surveilance . After Henri's death, a period of moderation was established by Catherine d'Medici (regent for Charles IX), allowing for much greater governmentaltoleration . But the Duke of Guise helped create a climate of Catholic intoleration which led to the Massacres at Vassy and Sens in 1562.

War broke out after the violence in March of 1562, resulting in eight civil wars . A cycle of war and peace began--bloodshed followed by edicts or treaties--then more killing. The Saint Bartholomew's massacres in Paris in 1572 started the fourth civil war, bringing an end to an almost two-year armistice. Henry of Navarre, one of the most notable and successful Huguenot leaders, converted to Catholicism in 1594 in order to secure the French throne . Finally in 1598 Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) ends the last religious war with the Edict of Nantes. The Edict brought about the most long-standing toleration of Protestantism; Calvinism flourished in its new-found civic freedom. Huguenots organized their church and politics, forming synods, councils, and assemblies . They established academic institutions and trained ministers in Reformed theology .

The relative freedom enjoyed by the Huguenots was disrupted first by Cardinal Richelieu, who saw them as a potential threat to order, and later by Louis XIV, who systematically deprived them of all their rights. Louis began persecuting Protestants in 1683 and finally revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685 . The revocation led to the emmigration of at least 300,000 Huguenots. Most found homes in the Protestant Netherlands (100,000), while others settled in England, Ireland, and America (100,000); still others settled in Germany and Switzerland (100,000), some eventually finding their way to South Africa . Huguenots were absorbed into existing Protestant churches; while many adapted to changes, others strictly maintained their Calvinist roots. In the United States of America, the largest number of Huguenots settled in Charleston, South Carolina. Over time the Huguenots of America, as they lost thier native French to English, ceased to actively worship under that name; most became adherants of strongly Calvinist denominations (most notably Presbyterianism).

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure they were from France. Once when I was in the eigth grade I was falling asleep on my desk and was awoken with the teacher asking me "What is a Huguenit? I quickly said a french cow. It was funny if you were there.

Answer 3

From France.

Answer 4

France. 1700's.

Answer 5

France, they were persecuted Protestants

Answer 6

French Protestants. Don't know the year.