Edict of Fontainebleau After acceding to the French throne in 1643, King Louis XIV began to pursue a vigorous campaign of persecution of French Protestants (Huguenots). In 1685, the King issued the Edict of Fontainebleau. The Edict formally revoked the Edict of Nantes, thereby abolishing all legal recognition of Protestantism in France. Huguenots were also prohibited from emigrating, and they were forced to convert to Catholicism. This was the final blow that compelled some 500,000 Huguenots to illegally flee the country, settling in Holland, Germany and England. Many highly skilled Huguenot artisans made London their home. Examples include the architect and cabinet-maker Daniel Marot and the Cabrier family, a celebrated dynasty of Huguenot watch- and clockmakers. Ultimately, the level of work produced by Huguenot artisans boosted the English clockmaking industry and ensured that London maintained its status as the premier centre for clockmaking in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries. You can read more about immigrant Huguenot artisans in the Clocktime article Huguenot makers and their contributions to London clockmaking. Image Credit Édit de Louis XIV portant révocation de l'édit de Nantes dit édit de Fontainebleau, Octobre 1685. Reference codes: AE/II/887, Cote d’origine : J//943/3. Archives nationales-site de Paris. https://www.siv.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/siv/rechercheconsultation/consultation/ir/consultationIR.action?consIr=&frontIr=&optionFullText=&fullText=&defaultResultPerPage=&irId=FRAN_IR_057573&formCaller=GENERALISTE&gotoArchivesNums=false&auSeinIR=false&details=true&page=&udId=A1_341
