Henry IV of France

Henry III on his deathbed designating Henri de Navarre as his successor

Musée national du Château de Pau - Portait d'Henri IV vers 1575 - P 82 1 1

King Henry IV in his coronation robes, by Frans Pourbus the Younger

Henri IV à la bataille d'Arques 21 septembre 1589

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Henry IV of France (13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known as Henry the Great (Henri le Grand), was King of France from 1589 until his assassination in 1610. He was the first monarch of France from the House of Bourbon, a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty. Before ascending the throne, he was known as Henry of Navarre (Henri de Navarre), a title he inherited through his mother, who was the queen of Navarre. His reign is remembered for the steps he took to end the French Wars of Religion, his conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism, and the issuance of the Edict of Nantes, which granted religious freedom to the Huguenots.

Early Life

Henry was born in Pau, the capital of the Kingdom of Navarre, to Jeanne d'Albret, the Queen of Navarre, and Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme. His birth brought together two significant lineages of France, making him a prominent figure from his early years. Raised as a Huguenot, Henry was involved in the French Wars of Religion from a young age, fighting for the Protestant cause against the Catholic House of Valois.

Accession to the Throne

The assassination of Henry III in 1589 left the French throne vacant, and Henry of Navarre, as the senior male heir of the Capetian dynasty, was the rightful successor. However, his Protestant faith made his accession controversial in a predominantly Catholic France. After a series of military successes and political maneuvers, Henry IV was able to secure his position as king, but he recognized that to truly unite his country, he would need to convert to Catholicism. His reputed statement, "Paris is well worth a Mass," underscores the pragmatic approach he took towards his conversion in 1593.

Reign and Policies

Henry IV's reign was marked by efforts to bring peace and stability to a country ravaged by decades of religious conflict. The Edict of Nantes, issued in 1598, was a landmark decree that granted substantial rights to the Huguenots while affirming Catholicism as the state religion. This edict is often seen as the foundation of religious tolerance in France and a significant step towards the concept of the modern state.

Henry also focused on administrative reforms, improving the financial health of the kingdom, and promoting agriculture, trade, and infrastructure projects. His policies laid the groundwork for the French absolutism that would characterize the reign of his grandson, Louis XIV.

Assassination and Legacy

Henry IV's policies and charismatic leadership made him widely popular among his subjects, but he also faced opposition from extremist Catholic factions. He was assassinated by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic, in 1610. His death marked the end of a relatively peaceful period in French history, and his son, Louis XIII, succeeded him under the regency of Marie de' Medici.

Henry IV is remembered as one of France's greatest kings, celebrated for his efforts to heal the wounds of his country and lay the foundations for its future prosperity. His legacy is a testament to the complexities of leadership and the power of tolerance and pragmatism in governance.

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