Those who placed politics ahead of religion in an attempt to end the wars of religion.
The Edict of Nantes
France
Wanting to bring a peaceful end to the 30+ years "Wars of Religion" and realizing that France would never accept him as a Protestant king, Henry IV converted to Catholicism in 1593.
It was the end of religious wars that allowed France to join in the scramble for colonies. France was in competition with Spain to build an empire in America.
The edict of Nantes
The wars concluded with the issuing of the Edict of Nantes by Henry IV of France, which granted a degree of religious toleration to Protestants. Henry IV was a Huguenot, and he became the first Protestant king. Though he had to become a Catholic for political reasons, the Edict of Nantes was the first step towards religious freedom in France.
His goal was to end wars with France and build a trust with them.
What were the affects of the french wars of religion?
Napoleonic and Franco-Prussian
French Wars of Religion happened in 1562-03.
The Edict Of Nantes, put into place by France in 1598 gave equal rights to all Protestants living in France (which was a heavily Catholic country). The declaration of the edict signaled the end of years of religious wars that had been waged by France during much of the 16th century.