Lecture and discussion with Prof. Alexander Schunka, Free University of Berlin
340 years ago, the Potsdam Edict of Tolerance enabled persecuted Huguenots to immigrate to Berlin and the surrounding area, and has since been regarded as a prime example of successful integration. To mark the anniversary, Prof. Dr Alexander Schunka (FU Berlin) will present a linguistically modernised new edition of the edict at the Huguenot Museum in Berlin and place it in its historical context.
The Edict of Potsdam, issued on 29 October 1685 by Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg, opened the door for thousands of Protestant Huguenots persecuted in France to immigrate to Berlin and Brandenburg. It was also an active recruitment drive for workers and fellow believers, thus laying the foundation for Berlin's further development. By 1700, one fifth of Berlin's population had French ancestors. But what did the edict that made immigration possible actually say?
At the Huguenot Museum in Berlin, Prof. Dr Alexander Schunka presents a linguistically modernised new edition of the edict. The text, a mixture of antiquated 17th-century German, Latin and French, is largely incomprehensible to many people today. The document has now been translated into contemporary German.
The event consists of a lecture followed by a discussion. The significance of the edict both at the time of its creation and in contemporary contexts will be reflected upon.
(IN GERMAN)
Additional information
Dates
October 2025
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