Hitherto, for some centuries, the trend had been away from feudalism to absolute monarchy.

The ideal, "une foi, une loi, un roi" had been nearly attained.

But this was now checked in two ways.

The great nobles found in Calvinism an opportunity to assert their privileges against the king.

The middle classes in the cities, especially in those regions where sectionalism was still strong, found the same opportunity but turned it to the advantage of republicanism.
A fierce spirit of resistance not only to the prelates but to the monarch, was born.