King Henry IV of France issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 to promote religious tolerance in France. The edict granted substantial rights and freedoms to French Protestants (Huguenots) amidst ongoing conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in the nation. It allowed Protestants to practice their religion freely, hold public office, and access education, thereby fostering a period of relative peace and stability known as the "French Wars of Religion." The Edict of Nantes was vital in establishing a precedent for religious tolerance in Europe. However, it was revoked in 1685 by Louis XIV, leading to renewed persecution and mass exile of Protestants from France.