dragonnades

French history

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June 25, 2026

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The term "dragonnades" refers to a brutal persecution of French Protestants (Huguenots) during the reign of Louis XIV in the 17th century. This practice involved the forced quartering of soldiers in Protestant homes, with the soldiers permitted to behave as cruelly as they wished. The goal was to coerce Protestants into converting to Catholicism. The word "dragoon" originally described a type of mounted infantryman, and the firearm they used was named after the mythical dragon due to its resemblance to the creature. The harshness of these soldiers led to the verb "dragoon" being used to describe any form of coercion or intimidation. The dragonnades were a significant part of Louis XIV's religious policy, which ultimately led to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, ending legal protection for Protestants in France.12

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François-Michel Le Tellier, marquis de Louvois
Career as minister.
…tarnished by two acts: the dragonnades leading up to the revocation in 1685 of the Edict of Nantes, which had granted French Protestants certain liberties, and the destruction of the Palatinate. Historians have accused Louvois of originating the dragonnades, the quartering of troops in Protestant households with the intention of…
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…tarnished by two acts: the dragonnades leading up to the revocation in 1685 of the Edict of Nantes, which had granted French Protestants certain liberties, and the destruction of the Palatinate. Historians have accused Louvois of originating the dragonnades, the quartering of troops in Protestant households with the intention of…
Read More