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Handout #169 |
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The effectiveness of the Dragonnades |
| Since persuasion and financial aids to
convert (the Conversion Fund) proved to be of limited effect, in 1681
A.D., and above all in 1685 A.D., administrators had the idea of billeting
troops on the Protestants. This practice was known as the Dragonnades, and
led to violence. A large number of Protestants became 'New Catholics', to
the satisfaction of public opinion generally.
Satisfaction of the Bishop of Grenoble, Etienne Le Camus We have seen almost all the alleged Reformed Christians of the Dauhinate converted to the Catholic religion with such ease and rapidity that although one could say that the fear of disobeying the king and incurring his indignation was a major contributory factor, it has to be acknowledged that God played a part and that his almighty hand miraculously supported the good intentions of His Majesty. Finally, almost fifty thousand Huguenots counted in the Dauphinate were converted in a month, and not a single one of those who claimed to support this religion had the steadfastness even to rise above the loss of some worldly good which might have ensured from giving lodging to these warlike men, much less to endure martyrdom... Finally, Montepellier, Lunel, Nimes, and the majority of other towns in the Lanaguedoc recanted. Nothing in the world could be more glorious for our great king, nor a greater merit towards the church and the Holy See, for in three months there was no longer any Huguenot practice or Calvinist religion in France. |
