The Edict of Nantes was a royal decree issued by King Henry IV of France in 1598. It granted religious freedom to the Huguenots, French Protestants, and ended the French Wars of Religion. The Edict of Nantes also granted civil rights to the Huguenots, including the right to hold public office and practice their faith without persecution. The Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685 by King Louis XIV, leading to a wave of Huguenot emigration from France. The Edict of Nantes is considered one of the most important documents in French history.