Politique

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Politique is an archaic term used in the 16th century to describe either a head of state who puts politics before their religion, or individuals who sought political accommodation between Protestants and Catholics in the interest of peace. Due to their political philosophies, "politiques" can be viewed as early examples of the belief in separation of church and state.

Some of the most notable "politique" leaders of the 16th century were Queen Elizabeth I of England, King Henry IV of France, and William the Silent of the Low Countries. At the time, they wanted peace more than anything else, and were willing to go as far as converting themselves if need be.

In France, the expression "politique" was applied (by their critics) to moderate Catholics who sought political accommodation with the Huguenots, and the term frequently included a pejorative connotation of moral or religious indifference. The term gained great currency after 1568 with the appearance of radical Catholic Leagues calling for the eradication of Protestantism in France, and by 1588 the "politiques" were seen by detractors as an organized group and treated as worse than heretics. In early critical writings, the "politiques" (largely jurists and intellectuals) were sometimes confused with another group, the "malcontents" (nobles who opposed the political influence of the Guise family). Many moderate "politique" Catholics defended the idea of Gallicanism, of making a distinction between the State and Religion, of a unitary and undivided royal sovereignty (against exterior influence or internal divisions), and of privileging national security and peace.

It can be argued that "politiques" truly were anyone who believed in the necessity of a strong monarchy to national security. For example, the politique policies of Henry IV of France, such as the Edict of Nantes (a document granting unprecedented political and religious liberties to the minority French Protestants), directly contributed to the centralized administrative system of 17th century France and the absolutism embodied by Louis XIV of France, which included an eventual revocation of the Edict.