A Dictionary of All Religions and Religious Denominations/Hugonots

HUGONOTS, or HUGENOTS, a name given by way of contempt to the reformed, or protestant Calvinists in France, about 1560. The name is variously derived; some take it from a gate in Tours, called Hugon, where they first assembled; others from a faulty French pronunciation of the German word eidgnossen, or confederates; and others from the first words of their original protest, or confession of faith, "Huc nos venimus," &c. The persecution which these people underwent has scarcely its parallel in history; in 1572, upwards of 70,000 of them were butchered in various parts of France, on the memorable eve of St. Bartholomew; nor were their sufferings much mitigated till Henry IV. in 1598, published the edict of Nantz, which secured them the free exercise of their religion. But in 1685 this edict was cruelly and suddenly revoked by Louis XIV. when the persecution again began; their churches were demolished, their estates confiscated, their persons insulted by the bigoted soldiery ; and after the loss of innumerable lives, 500,000 of them were driven into exile in foreign countries.