France’s new king, a bigoted Roman Catholic…

France’s new king, a bigoted Roman Catholic and rigorous in the repression of the growing Protestant movement in France, in 1547 promotes the Chambre Ardente ("burning chamber"), in the Parlement of Paris for trying heretics.

Originated by the Cardinal of Lorraine, the first of them meeting in 1535 under Francis I, the name is perhaps an allusion to the fact that the proceedings take place in a room from which all daylight is excluded, the only illumination being from torches, or there may be a reference to the severity of the sentences in ardente, suggesting the burning of the prisoners at the stake.

These courts had been originated by the Cardinal of Lorraine, the first of them meeting in 1535 under Francis I.

The Chambre Ardente cooperates with an inquisitorial tribunal also established by Francis, the duty of which is to discover cases of heresy and hand them over for final judgment to the Chambre Ardente.

Henry’s reign will be particularly infamous for the cruelties perpetrated on the Huguenots by this court, which will not be abolished until 1682.