Final answer:
The Edict of Nantes granted religious freedom to the Huguenots, French Protestants, in 1598 by allowing them the liberty of conscience and worship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Edict of Nantes in 1598 was a significant historical decree issued by Henry IV of France, which granted religious freedom to the French Protestants known as Huguenots. This edict provided the Huguenots with the liberty of conscience and the liberty of public worship, although it still named Catholicism as the official state religion.
The issuance of the Edict of Nantes followed a period of intense religious conflict in France, including the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and the War of the Three Henrys.
The edict was a step toward religious tolerance and helped to establish a temporary period of peace and stability in France, which subsequently aided French exploration and expansion.