The political thought of the Huguenots in the first third of the 17th century

Abstract

Based on written sources and specialized historical literature, the article analyzes the political thought of the Huguenots during the first third of the 17^th century. The purpose of the study is to identify the core political ideas of the Huguenot community as presented in the works of that period.

It is established that the principal works reflecting Huguenot political thought include the writings of J.-P. de Lescun, T. Brachet de La Milletière, A. d’Aubigné, the Duke of Rohan, as well as official declarations of church synods and political assemblies. The article highlights the evolution of Huguenot political thought during the 17^th century, demonstrating a shift from monarchomach theories toward loyalty to the monarchy as the guarantor of religious tolerance. A notable exception is the work of A. d’Aubigné, which follows the monarchomach tradition.

The study proves that the Huguenot political doctrine was based on the recognition of absolute sovereignty and the divine right of kings, which, however, carried an obligation to respect the rights of subjects. The authors argued that the Edict of Nantes, as a law protecting the rights of subjects, constitutes one of the fundamental laws of the kingdom that the monarch must not violate. Their writings promote the narrative of a conspiracy by the Huguenots’ enemies, who allegedly sought to destroy both the Church and the State; this rhetoric was employed to avoid direct confrontation with the monarchy.

It is established that 17^th century Huguenot political works approach the theory of resistance with caution, framing their struggle not as an opposition to the sovereign, but as a defense against persecutions organized by their enemies. Huguenot authors mostly bypassed the possibility of direct resistance to the King.

Furthermore, the authors asserted a commonality of interests between a strong royal authority and the Huguenots. Their works attempted to prove the relationship between national unity and religious tolerance. The existence of edicts and the necessity of religious pluralism are explained through the lens of state interests: a strong King is beneficial to the Huguenots as he can guarantee the edicts, while the King benefits from Huguenot loyalty and their foreign policy connections. The article concludes that the Huguenots largely adopted the logic of raison d’État and absolutism.