Heral Family
"Heral" is the way my line spells it, but other lines use:Herald, Harrold, Harrolle, Herrold
Some researchers
are studying the possibility that this Harrold (Harald) family were descendants
of Nordic-Vikings who raided then settled in Germany. Others say that
they were from Normandy, France and were Huguenots who were forced out of
France into Germany by the Catholics (maybe by 1600). These Normans
were also originally Norsemen (Vikings) from Norway, which is why the area
is called Normandy.
If, in fact, the Harrold family lived in France, there is good reason for them to have fled to Germany:
The word "Huguenots" was an abusive term, referring to French "heretics." The Protestant reformation, began by Martin Luther in 1517, spread quickly to France. These French protestants became followers of John Calvin and their number reached into the French nobility and middle class. In 1536 an edict was issued which encouraged the extermination of all reformers (Huguenots) in France, but it did little to slow their growth.
By 1561, the Huguenots had grown in such strength that the Queen Regent of France was forced to declare a peace in order to keep them from taking Paris. But on March 1, 1562, 1200 Huguenots were killed at Vassy, France, by a mob of Catholics, which ignited a vicious religious war. Lasting 36 years, this war devastated France. The St. Bartholomew Massacre on Aug 23-24, 1572 left over 8,000 Huguenots dead, including several of their leaders.
In 1598 the French King, Henry IV gave the Huguenots in France a measure of peace and religious freedom by the Edict of Nantes, which guaranteed religious freedom and gave them control of about 20 cities. King Henry (a huguenot sympathizer) was murdered in 1610 and persecution of Huguenots began again under his son Louis XIII. When Louis XIII was reminded of the rights the Huguenots were promised by Henry III & Henry IV, he said, "The first-named monarch feared them, and the latter loved them; but I neither fear nor love them." Cardinal Richelieu's favorite project was the extermination of the Huguenots. At least 250,000 French Huguenots fled to countries such as Switzerland, Germany, England, America, and the Netherlands.
It appears that the Harrold family was in Germany at least by 1616.
If, in fact, the Harrold family lived in France, there is good reason for them to have fled to Germany:
The word "Huguenots" was an abusive term, referring to French "heretics." The Protestant reformation, began by Martin Luther in 1517, spread quickly to France. These French protestants became followers of John Calvin and their number reached into the French nobility and middle class. In 1536 an edict was issued which encouraged the extermination of all reformers (Huguenots) in France, but it did little to slow their growth.
By 1561, the Huguenots had grown in such strength that the Queen Regent of France was forced to declare a peace in order to keep them from taking Paris. But on March 1, 1562, 1200 Huguenots were killed at Vassy, France, by a mob of Catholics, which ignited a vicious religious war. Lasting 36 years, this war devastated France. The St. Bartholomew Massacre on Aug 23-24, 1572 left over 8,000 Huguenots dead, including several of their leaders.
In 1598 the French King, Henry IV gave the Huguenots in France a measure of peace and religious freedom by the Edict of Nantes, which guaranteed religious freedom and gave them control of about 20 cities. King Henry (a huguenot sympathizer) was murdered in 1610 and persecution of Huguenots began again under his son Louis XIII. When Louis XIII was reminded of the rights the Huguenots were promised by Henry III & Henry IV, he said, "The first-named monarch feared them, and the latter loved them; but I neither fear nor love them." Cardinal Richelieu's favorite project was the extermination of the Huguenots. At least 250,000 French Huguenots fled to countries such as Switzerland, Germany, England, America, and the Netherlands.
It appears that the Harrold family was in Germany at least by 1616.
