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The Forum: Who were the Huguenots?

French Huguenots landing in Dover

10/09/2020 GMT

Who were the Huguenots?

BBC World Service - The Forum, Who were the Huguenots?

The myths and mysteries surrounding French protestant refugees

The myths and mysteries surrounding French protestant refugees, who fled from France to neighbouring states between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The Huguenots gave the word 'refugee' to the English language - they were French protestants escaping religious persecution, who fled from France to neighbouring states between the 16th and 18th centuries. Despite their early experience of violence and religious upheaval, they are widely celebrated for their contribution as migrants, famously as silk weavers and silversmiths, traders and teachers.

Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the Huguenots and their global legacy are three experts: Owen Stanwood is Associate Professor of History at Boston College in the United States and is the author of 'The Global Refuge: Huguenots in an Age of Empire'; Ruth Whelan is Professor of French at Maynooth University in Ireland, where she researches the religious and intellectual culture of French Protestants between 1680 and 1730; and Kathy Chater is a London-based historian and genealogist. She’s the author of 'Tracing Your Huguenot Ancestors'.

Image: Engraving depicting French Huguenot refugees as they landed in Dover 
Image Credit: adoc-photos / Getty Images

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