French History 101

Here’s a bit of history courtesy of Microsoft Encarta Enclyopedia… The Huguenots were Protestants of France from about 1560 to 1629. Protestantism was introduced into France around 1520. At first the new religious group enjoyed royal protection. However, King Francis I persecuted the Protestants and his successor, Henry II, followed his example.

Political rivalry between Roman Catholics and the Huguenots led to the Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day in 1572. King Charles IX of France and his mother, Catherine de Médicis, feared the growing power of the Huguenots. In late August they arranged to have a number of Huguenot leaders murdered. The massacre began on August 24 in Paris and then spread to the French provinces. By early October several thousand Huguenots had been killed throughout the country.

Finding life in France intolerable under the ensuing persecutions and evaporation of religious liberty, hundreds of thousands of Huguenots fled to England, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and North America. The total emigration is believed to have been about 200,000.

The Edict of Nantes in 1598, marked the end of religious wars between French Roman Catholics and Protestants for 87 years. It gave partial religious freedom to the Huguenots but was never completely carried out.
I bought a small necklace charm (see picture), which is called the Huguenot cross. Below is a description of its symbolism.
· The insignia consists of an open four-petal Lily of France -- reminiscent of the Mother Country of France -- in which each petal radiates outward in the shape of a "V" to form a Maltese Cross. The four petals signify the Four Gospels. Each petal, or arm, has at its outside periphery two rounded points at the corners. These rounded points are regarded as signifying the Eight Beatitudes.
· The four petals are joined together by four fleur-de-lis, also reminiscent of the Mother Country of France. Each fleur-de-lis has three petals. The twelve petals of the four fleur-de-lis signify the Twelve Apostles.
· An open space in the shape of heart is formed between each fleur-de-lis and the arms of the two petals with which it is joined. This shape -- a symbol of loyalty -- suggests the seal of the great French Reformer, John Calvin.
· A descending dove pendant representing the Saint Esprit or "Sainted Spirit" -- the guide and counselor of the Church -- is suspended from a ring of gold attached to the lower central petal. Some pendants have a pearl instead of the dove, as a reminder of the persecution the Huguenot’s endured.