The Edict of Nantes was a decree issued in 1598 by King Henry IV of France. It granted significant rights and freedoms to the Huguenots, who were French Protestants, allowing them to practice their religion openly and providing them with political and civil rights. This edict aimed to bring peace to a country that had been torn apart by religious wars between Catholics and Protestants. The Edict of Nantes marked a crucial step towards religious tolerance in France. However, it was revoked in 1685 by King Louis XIV, leading to renewed persecution of the Huguenots and a mass exodus of Protestants from France. The revocation significantly impacted the social and economic landscape of the country.