These were a form of persecution of Protestants, in the lead-up to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. From May 1685 troops were billeted on Protestants who refused to convert, and given a licence to do what they liked. This was an old tactic, previously used against peasant rebellion or to get taxes in, and had been used episodically against Protestants since 1659. A dragon was a cavalry soldier armed with gun and sabre; other troops were also used. The soldiers committed numerous atrocities, including pillage and rape. The method was often very effective in persuading Protestants to go through the motions of conversion to Catholicism; it was even more effective in fanning the hatred of such nouveaux convertis for the Catholic Church (even though such persecution was largely a state decision, about which the clergy were not always happy).
[Ralph Gibson]
