Edict of Amboise (1560)

Second; 1567–1568Saint-Denis; Chartres Third; 1568–1570Jarnac; La Roche-l'Abeille; Poitiers; Orthez; Moncontour; Saint-Jean d'Angély; Arney-le-Duc Fourth; 1572–1573Mons; Sommières; Sancerre; La Rochelle Fifth; 1574–1576Dormans Sixth; 1577La Charité-sur-Loire; Issoire; Brouage Seventh; 1580La Fère War of the Three Henrys (1585–1589)Coutras; Vimory; Auneau; Day of the Barricades Succession of Henry IV of France (1589–1594)Arques; Ivry; Paris; Château-Laudran; Rouen; Caudebec; Craon; 1st Luxembourg; Blaye; Morlaix; Fort Crozon Franco-Spanish War (1595–1598)2nd Luxembourg; Fontaine-Française; Ham; Le Catelet; Doullens; Cambrai; Calais; La Fère; Ardres; Amiens The Edict of Amboise (1560) was a decree that created the framework to separate heresy from sedition, promulgated by the young king Francis II on the advice of his council and mother Catherine de' Medici.

The edict was the first promulgated in France that lessened the persecution of Huguenots through the provision of amnesty for past religious crimes on the condition the offender returned to the Catholic fold.

The edict was published during the Amboise conspiracy whilst the royal court was resident in the Château d'Amboise and their authority over France was shaken.

[1][2] The substance of these edicts was the criminalisation of heresy, with the Chambre Ardente set up to burn heretics and special prosecutors sent out into the provinces to oversee this process.

[5] They initially sought continuity with the previous regime, and from July 1559 to February 1560 would pass four more persecutory edicts, including such provisions as the razing of any house which a Protestant meeting occurred in, and the prosecution of landlords who knowingly had heretics as tenants.

Payments to the army were deferred, angering the soldiers, and crown lands not in the possession of the Guise or their clients were resumed, frustrating the former nobles who had held such properties.

[9] A full-fledged conspiracy first consolidated in August 1559, aiming to push the dubious rights of Condé to the regency, over that of the Guise, despite Francis being of age to rule.

[13] With Coligny invited to Amboise alongside much of the upper nobility, his counsel was also sought as concerned France's religious policy, which in this unfolding crisis, was felt to be unsustainable by the crown.

It began by deploring the bloodshed persecution had wrought on men, women and children over the previous years, noting that Francis little desired to begin his reign with such brutality as it was against his nature and young age.

[19] Several days after the publication of this amnesty, a more specific one would be outlined by the crown, offering a pardon for all those currently outside Amboise castle, who within 48 hours put down their weapons and returned home.