Chapter 24 23. Sun King

The eighteenth century is often referred to as the age of despotism.In today's age of believing in democracy, autocracy, no matter how enlightened, is not an ideal government. The historian who always speaks well of mankind will also point the finger at King Louis XIV and leave us to draw our own conclusions.When this wise king took his crown, Catholics and Christians were evenly matched in the country he inherited.After a century of killing each other (the Catholics took a lot of advantage), they finally reached a peace. .The "permanent and unalterable" Edict of Nantes, issued in 1598, included the agreements reached between the parties, namely, that Catholicism was the state religion, that Christians could fully enjoy freedom of belief and that they would not be persecuted for their beliefs .They were also allowed to build their own churches and hold public office.Christians were also allowed to control 200 fortified cities in France as a token of their trust.

This is of course an impossible arrangement.Huguenots are not angels, and to put over two hundred prosperous cities and counties in the hands of a party hostile to the government is as absurd as if we handed over Chicago, San Francisco, and Philadelphia to the Democrats in exchange for them being ruled by the Republicans nonsense. Richelieu, a wise man who had ruled the country, saw it.After a long struggle, he deprived Christians of their political rights, but did not interfere with their religious freedom, even though he himself was an archbishop.Huguenots could no longer engage in separate diplomatic negotiations with the enemies of the state, but they still enjoyed the same rights as before, singing hymns, listening to sermons, and so on.

The next French ruler to implement a similar policy was Mazarin, but he died in 1661.The young Louis XIV came to power, and that was the end of the age of goodwill. This clever, but controversial king seemed to have been very unfortunate that once in his life he had to befriend a decent man, and that he fell into the hands of a religious woman named Frans Dopina. , is the widow of the royal literati Scollon.She began her fortune at court as tutor to the seven illegitimate children of Louis XIV and Montestain, and when the lady's aphrodisiacs had lost their magic and the king had shown occasional weariness, the governess would instead.The only difference between her and all the previous mistresses of the king was that when she moved into the king's residence, the Archbishop of Paris held a grand religious ceremony for their marriage.

For the next twenty years all power behind the throne was in the hands of this woman, who was at the mercy of her confessor.The Catholic clergy in France never forgave Richelieu and Mazarin for their conciliatory attitude toward Christians.Now that they had a chance at last to destroy the achievements of wise statesmen, they went to great lengths, for they were not only the queen's official advisers, but also the king's bankers. Here's another weird story. During the first eight centuries, the monasteries accumulated most of the wealth of France. They refused to pay taxes to the state despite the increasing expenditure of the treasury, so they held a large surplus of property.His Majesty - whose glory far outweighed his credit - seized the opportunity and refilled his coffers.To this end, he gave the priests who supported him a little favor, and in return he was allowed to borrow as much money from the church as he wanted.

In this way, the "immutable" Decree of Nantes was changed one by one.Christians were not outlawed at first, but there was always no peace for those who persisted in their faith in the Huguenot cause.It is said that the false teachings in some provinces are very stubborn, so the dragoons went to run amok, living in the homes of ordinary people, giving orders, which is very annoying.They ate and drank, stole spoons and forks, broke furniture, insulted the wives and daughters of peaceful families, and did as much as they did in conquered lands.Disappointed, the owners rushed to the court to ask for protection, but they were mocked, saying that it was their own fault and that they should know how to get rid of these unwelcome visitors and regain the favor of the government.

Only a few people heeded the advice and went to the nearby country priests to receive Catholic baptism.But the vast majority of simple people cling to the ideals they have believed in since childhood.Finally, when the churches were closed one by one and the priests were crucified, they realized that they were doomed.They didn't want to surrender, so they decided to leave. But when they arrived at the border, they learned that no one was allowed to leave the border. If they were caught, they would be hanged, and those who helped them would probably also be hanged. Apparently something happened then that posterity will never know.

In fact, since the time of Pharaoh, various governments have also "closed the borders" from time to time, but they have never been successful. Those who are determined to go will always find their way, if they risk every kind of danger.Thousands of French Christians came to London, Amsterdam, Berlin and Basel by "secret routes".Of course these fugitives did not have much money, but they were famously loyal and hard-working businessmen and artists, with good reputation and energy, and within a few years they were prosperous again.This prosperity should have belonged to France, and France lost incalculable value economically.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the banning of the Decree of Nantes was the prelude to the French Revolution. France has always been a rich country.But business and religion have never been able to cooperate. As soon as the power of France fell into the hands of women and priests, the fate was sealed.The same pen that wrote the decree expelling the Huguenots, which later also signed the death sentence of Louis XVI.