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Henry IV of France

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For other uses, seeHenry IV (disambiguation).
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Henry IV(French:Henri IV;13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithetsGood King HenryorHenry the Great,wasKing of Navarre(asHenry III) from 1572 andKing of Francefrom 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarch of France from theHouse of Bourbon,acadet branchof theCapetian dynasty.He pragmatically balanced the interests of the Catholic and Protestant parties in France as well as among the European states. He was assassinated in Paris in 1610 by a Catholic zealot, and was succeeded by his sonLouis XIII.

Henry IV
Portrait of Henry IV aged 5
Portrait byFrans Pourbus,1610
King of France
(more...)
Reign2 August 1589 – 14 May 1610
Coronation27 February 1594
Chartres Cathedral
PredecessorHenry III
SuccessorLouis XIII
King of Navarre
Reign9 June 1572 – 14 May 1610
PredecessorJeanne III
SuccessorLouis II
Born13 December 1553
Château de Pau,Béarn
Died14 May 1610(1610-05-14)(aged 56)
Palais du Louvre,Paris, France
Cause of deathAssassination
Burial1 July 1610
Basilica of St Denis,Paris, France
Spouses
​
​
(m.1572;ann.1599)​
​
(m.1600)​
Issue
HouseBourbon
FatherAntoine of Navarre
MotherJeanne III of Navarre
ReligionCalvinism(1553–1593)
Catholicism(1593–1610)
SignatureHenry IV's signature

Henry was baptised a Catholic but raised in the Protestant faith by his mother. He inherited the throne of Navarre in 1572 on his mother's death. As aHuguenot(Protestant), Henry was involved in theFrench Wars of Religion,barely escaping assassination in theSt. Bartholomew's Day massacre.He later led Protestant forces against the French royal army. Henry inherited the throne of France in 1589 upon the death ofHenry III.Henry IV initially kept the Protestant faith (the only French king to do so) and had to fight against theCatholic League,which refused to accept a Protestant monarch. After four years of military stalemate, Henry converted to Catholicism, reportedly saying, "Paris is well worth a mass." As apragmatic politicianhe promulgated theEdict of Nantes(1598), which guaranteed religious liberties to Protestants, thereby effectively ending theFrench Wars of Religion.

An active ruler, Henry worked to regularize state finance, promote agriculture, eliminate corruption and encourage education. He began the first successfulFrench colonization of the Americas.He promoted trade and industry, and prioritized the construction of roads, bridges, and canals to facilitate communication within France and strengthen the country's cohesion. These efforts stimulated economic growth and improved living standards.

While the Edict of Nantes brought religious peace to France, some hardline Catholics and Huguenots remained dissatisfied, leading to occasional outbreaks of violence and conspiracies. Henry IV also faced resistance from certain noble factions who opposed his centralization policies, leading to political instability.

His main foreign policy success was thePeace of Vervinsin 1598, which made peace in the long-running conflict with Spain. He formed a strategic alliance with England. He also forged alliances with Protestant states, such as the Dutch Republic and several German states, to counter the Catholic powers. His policies contributed to the stability and prominence of France in European affairs.

Early life and King of Navarre

Childhood and adolescence

Henry III of Franceon his deathbed designating Henry IV of Navarre as his successor (1589)

Henry de Bourbonwas born inPau,the capital of the jointKingdom of Navarrewith the sovereign principality ofBéarn.[1]His parents wereJeanne III of Navarre(Jeanne d'Albret) and her husband,Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, King of Navarre.[2]Although baptised as a Catholic, Henry was raised in the Calvinist faith by his mother,[3]who had declared Calvinism the religion of Navarre. As a teenager, Henry joined the Huguenot forces in the French Wars of Religion. On 9 June 1572, upon his mother's death, the 19-year-old becameKing of Navarre.[4]

First marriage and Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre

Portrait of Henry III of Navarre (future Henry IV of France),c. 1575

At the death of his mother Queen Jeanne, it was arranged for Henry to marryMargaret of Valois,daughter ofHenry II of FranceandCatherine de' Medici.The wedding took place inParison 18 August 1572 on theparvisofNotre Dame Cathedral.[5]

On 24 August, theSt. Bartholomew's Day massacrebegan in Paris. Several thousand Protestants who had come to Paris for Henry's wedding were killed, as well as thousands more throughout the country in the days that followed. Henry narrowly escaped death thanks to the help of his wife and his promise to convert to Catholicism. He was forced to live at the court of France, but he escaped in early 1576. On 5 February of that year, he formally abjured Catholicism atToursand rejoined the Protestant forces in the military conflict.[4]He named his 16-year-old sister,Catherine de Bourbon,regent of Béarn. Catherine held the regency for nearly thirty years.

Wars of Religion

Further information:French Wars of Religion
King Henry IV in his coronation robes, byFrans Pourbus the Younger

Henry becameheir presumptiveto the French throne in 1584 upon the death ofFrancis, Duke of Anjou,brother and heir to the CatholicHenry III,who had succeededCharles IXin 1574. Given that Henry of Navarre was the next senioragnaticdescendant of KingLouis IX,King Henry III had no choice but to recognise him as the legitimate successor.[6]

War of the Three Henrys (1587–1589)

Main article:War of the Three Henrys

A conflict for the throne of France then ensued, contested by these three men and their respective supporters:

Salic lawbarred inheritance by the king's sisters and all others who could claim descent through only the female line. However, since Henry of Navarre was a Huguenot, many Catholics refused to acknowledge the succession, and France was plunged into a phase of the Wars of Religion known as theWar of the Three Henrys(1587–1589).

The Duke of Guise pushed for complete suppression of the Huguenots and had much support among Catholic loyalists. Political disagreements among the parties set off a series of campaigns and counter-campaigns that culminated in theBattle of Coutras.[7]

In December 1588, King Henry III had the Duke of Guise murdered,[8]along with his brother Louis, Cardinal of Guise,[9]thinking the removal of the brothers would restore his authority. However, the populace was horrified and rose against him. The King was no longer recognized in several cities; his effective power was limited toBlois,Tours, and the surrounding districts.

In the general chaos, Henry III relied on Henry of Navarre and his Huguenots. The two kings were united by a common interest—to win France from the Catholic League. Henry III recognized the King of Navarre as a true subject and Frenchman, not a fanatic Huguenot aiming to subjugate Catholics, and Catholic royalist nobles also rallied to them. With this combined force, the two kings marched to Paris. The morale of the city was low, and even the Spanish ambassador believed the city could not hold out longer than a fortnight. However, on 2 August 1589, a monk infiltrated Henry III's camp and assassinated him.[10]

King of France: Early reign

Succession (1589–1594)

Main article:Succession of Henry IV of France
Henry IV at theBattle of Arques
Henry IV at theBattle of Ivry,byPeter Paul Rubens

When Henry III died, his ninth cousin once removed, Henry of Navarre, nominally became king of France. The Catholic League, however, strengthened by foreign support—especially from Spain—was strong enough to prevent a universal recognition of his new title.Pope Sixtus Vexcommunicated Henry and declared him ineligible to inherit the crown.[11]Most of the Catholic nobles who had joined Henry III for the siege of Paris also refused to recognize Henry of Navarre, and abandoned him. He set about winning his kingdom by force of arms, aided by English money and German troops. Henry's Catholic uncleCharles, Cardinal de Bourbonwas proclaimed king by the League, but the Cardinal was Henry's prisoner at the time.[12]Henry was victorious at theBattle of Arquesand theBattle of Ivry,but failed to take Paris afterbesieging itin 1590.[13]

Henry IV, asHercules,vanquishing theLernaean Hydra(i.e. theCatholic League), byToussaint Dubreuil,c. 1600

When Cardinal de Bourbon died in 1590, the League could not agree on a new candidate at theEstates Generalcalled to settle the question, also attended by the envoys of Spain. While some supported various Guise candidates, the strongest candidate was probably theInfanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain,daughter ofPhilip II of Spain,whose motherElisabethhad been the eldest daughter ofHenry II of France.[14]In the religious fervor of the time, the Infanta was considered a suitable queen, provided she married a suitable husband. The French overwhelmingly rejected Philip's first choice,Archduke Ernest of Austria,the Emperor's brother, also a member of theHouse of Habsburg.In case of such opposition, Philip indicated that princes of the House of Lorraine would be acceptable to him: the Duke of Guise; a son of the Duke of Lorraine; and the son of the Duke of Mayenne. The Spanish ambassadors selected the Duke of Guise, to the joy of the League. However, at that moment of seeming victory, the envy of the Duke of Mayenne was aroused, and he blocked the proposed election of a king.

Jetonwith portrait of King Henry IV, made inNuremberg(Germany) by Hans Laufer

TheParlementof Paris also upheld the Salic law. They argued that if the French accepted natural hereditary succession, as proposed by the Spaniards, and accepted a woman as their queen, then the ancient claims of the English kings would be confirmed, and the monarchy of centuries past would be rendered illegal.[15]The Parlement admonished Mayenne, as lieutenant-general, that the kings of France had resisted the interference of the pope in political matters, and that he should not raise a foreign prince or princess to the throne of France under the pretext of religion. Mayenne was angered that he had not been consulted prior to this admonishment, but yielded, since their aim was not contrary to his present views.

Despite these setbacks for the League, Henry remained unable to take control of Paris.

Conversion to Catholicism: "Paris is well worth a Mass" (1593)

Entrance of Henry IV in Paris, 22 March 1594, with 1,500cuirassiers

On 25 July 1593, with the encouragement of his mistress,Gabrielle d'Estrées,Henry permanently renounced Protestantism and converted to Catholicism to secure his hold on the French crown,[16]thereby earning the resentment of theHuguenotsand his allyElizabeth I of England.He was said to have declared thatParis vaut bien une messe( "Paris is well worth aMass"),[17][18][19]although the attribution is doubtful.[20][21]His acceptance of Catholicism secured the allegiance of the vast majority of his subjects.

Coronation and recognition (1594–1595)

SinceReims,traditional coronation place of French kings, was still occupied by the Catholic League, Henry was crowned King of France at theCathedral of Chartreson 27 February 1594.[22]Pope Clement VIIIlifted excommunicationfrom Henry on 17 September 1595.[23]He did not forget his former Calvinist coreligionists, however, and was known for his religious tolerance. In 1598 he issued theEdict of Nantes,which granted circumscribed liberties to the Huguenots.[24]

Civil war and the Edict of Nantes

Henry IV successfully ended the civil wars. He and his ministers appeased Catholic leaders using bribes of about 7 million écus, a sum greater than France's annual revenue. In combination with other fiscal problems, the king was faced with a financial crisis by the middle of the 1590s. In response to this crisis, Henry resolved to convene anAssembly of Notablesin November 1596 that he hoped would approve the creation of new royal revenues.[25][26]The assembly approved the creation of a new tax on goods entering towns that would be known as thepancarte,however in 1597 the crown was again rocked by military crisis when theSpanish seized Amiens.[27][28][29][30]

Huguenot leaders were placated by theEdict of Nantes,which had four separate sections. The articles laid down the tolerance which would be accorded to the Huguenots including the exact places where worship may or may not take place, the recognition of three Protestant universities, and the allowance of Protestant synods. The king also issued two personal documents (calledbrevets) which recognized the Protestant establishment. The Edict of Nantes signed religious tolerance into law, and the brevets were an act of benevolence that created a Protestant state within France.[27]

Despite this, it would take years to restore law and order to France. The Edict was met by opposition from theparlements,which objected to the guarantees offered to Protestants. TheParlement de Rouendid not formally register the edict until 1609, although it begrudgingly observed its terms.[31]

Later reign

Domestic policies

Henri IV on Horseback Trampling his Enemy.Bronze,c. 1615–1620. From France, probably Paris.Victoria and Albert Museum,London

During his reign, Henry IV worked through the ministerMaximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully,to regularize state finance, promote agriculture, drain swamps, undertake public works, and encourage education. He established theCollège Royal Henri-le-GrandinLa Flèche(today thePrytanée Militaire de la Flèche). He and Sully protected forests from further devastation, built a system of tree-lined highways, and constructed bridges and canals. He had a 1200-metre canal built in the park at theChâteau Fontainebleau(which may be fished today) and ordered the planting of pines, elms, and fruit trees.

Itinerary ofFrançois Pyrard de Laval(1601–1611)

The King restored Paris as a great city, with thePont Neuf,which still stands today, constructed over the riverSeineto connect theRightandLeft Banksof the city. Henry IV also built thePlace Royale(known since 1800 asPlace des Vosges), and added theGrande Galerieto theLouvre Palace.Stretching more than 400 metres along the Seine river bank, at the time it was the longest edifice of its kind in the world. He promoted the arts among all classes of people, and invited hundreds of artists and craftsmen to live and work on the building's lower floors. This tradition continued for another two hundred years, until ended byNapoleon I.The art and architecture of his reign have become known as theHenry IV style.

Economically, Henry IV sought to reduce imports of foreign goods tosupport domestic manufacturing.To this end, new sumptuary laws limited the use of imported gold and silver cloth. He also built royal factories to produce luxuries such as crystal glass, silk, satin, and tapestries (atGobelins ManufactoryandSavonnerie manufactoryworkshops). The king re-established silk weaving inToursandLyon,and increasedlinenproduction inPicardyandBrittany.He had distributed 16,000 free copies of the practical manualThe Theatre of Agricultureby Olivier de Serres.[32]

King Henry's vision extended beyond France, and he financed several expeditions ofPierre Dugua, Sieur de MontsandSamuel de Champlainto North America.[33]France laid claim toNew France(now Canada).[34]

International relations

Engraving of Henry IV
Demi-écucoin of Henry IV,Saint Lô(1589)

During the reign of Henry IV, rivalry continued among France,HabsburgSpain, and theHoly Roman Empirefor the mastery of Western Europe. The conflict was not resolved until after theThirty Years' War.

Spain and Italy

Further information:French Wars of Religion § War with Spain (1595–1598)

During Henry's struggle for the crown, Spain had been the principal backer of the Catholic League, and it tried to thwart Henry. Underthe Duke of Parma,an army from theSpanish Netherlandsintervened in 1590 against Henry and foiled his siege of Paris. Another Spanish army helped the Catholic League nobles opposing Henry to win theBattle of Craonin 1592.

The Spanish war was not ended with Henry's coronation, but after his victory at theSiege of Amiensin September 1597, thePeace of Vervinswas signed in 1598. This freed his armies to settle thedisputewith theDuchy of Savoy,ending with theTreaty of Lyon of 1601,which arranged territorial exchanges.

One of Henry's major problems was theSpanish Roadwhich traversed Spanish territory throughSavoyto the Low Countries. His first opportunity to cut the Spanish Road was a dispute over the ownership of theMarquisate of Saluzzo.The last marquis left Saluzzo to the French crown in 1548 (when Savoy was occupied by France), but the territory became disputed during the chaos of the Wars of Religion. The pope was asked toarbitratebetween the claims of France and the Duke of Savoy. The Duke offered to cedeBresseto France if he could retain Saluzzo. Henri IV accepted this, but Spain objected that Bresse was a vital part of the Spanish Road, and persuaded the Duke to reject the decision. Henry IV was already atLyonand had soldiers ready, and four days later he marched fifty thousand men against the duchy, occupying almost all of its area west of the Alps. In January 1601, Henry accepted another offer of papal arbitration and gained not only Bresse, butBugeyandGex.Savoy retained a narrow corridor through theVal de Chézery.This still allowed Spanish troops to cross fromLombardytoFranche Comtéwithout going through France, but it created a choke point where the Spanish Road was a single bridge across theRhône River.[35]

The Saluzzo conflict was Henry IV's last major military operation, but he continued to finance Spain's enemies. He generously assisted theDutch Republicwith over 12 million livres between 1598 and 1610. In some years, the payment was 10% of France's total annual budget. France also sent subsidies toGenevaafter the Duke of Savoyattempted to capture the cityin 1602.[35]

Holy Roman Empire

In 1609, the death of the childlessJohann William,Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg,meant that the succession of the wealthy Duchies were in dispute. Henry aimed to maintain peace among the Protestant princes of the Holy Roman Empire to present a united front against the Habsburgs. To achieve this, Henry encouraged a peaceful settlement over the succession between the two main protestant claimants:Wolfgang Wilhelm of Palatinate-NeuburgandJohann Sigismund of Brandenburg.He communicated this withMaurice, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel,a significant Protestant leader, who then sought to facilitate an agreement between Wolfgang and Johann Sigismund. When peace was negotiated in theTreaty of Dortmund,Henry sent congratulatory messages to the Protestant claimants, and voiced his support, particularly against the Habsburgs who were likely to challenge the treaty.[36]

When Habsburg forces invaded Jülich, starting theWar of the Jülich Succession,Henry decided to act. On 29 July, after consulting his advisors, Henry ordered a French army to support the Protestant claimants.[36]Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully,his financial advisor, was particularly keen on joining the war, as France's finances at the time were secure. Henry declared that he was defending the rights of the Imperial princes, and also that he was honoring his previously agreements to defend the Protestant claimants. Henry also was seeking to curb the power of the Habsburgs.[36]

Henry's actions faced critique. Some saw him as a warmonger. ThePapacyin particular was concerned that Henry was supporting Protestant princes. Henry responded to the papacy declaring that he was keeping the peace.[36]When Habsburg ambassadors told Henry that he was contributing to the decline of Catholicism by supporting the Protestant claimants, Henry declared that he was merely trying to contain the Habsburgs. He also warned the Papacy to keep religion out of succession affairs. France assured the Protestant princes of the Empire that despite being Catholic, the French would still provide aid. Henry also sought to gain the aid of the English and Dutch. Henry greatly pressured the Dutch for support, appealing directly tostates-general.[36]

Despite Henry's defense of the Protestant princes during the Jülich War, many of the German states distrusted him. Afterall, Henry had converted to Catholicism in 1593. Also, France owed debts to some German states, which France struggled to repay. There were also concerns that Henry sought to become Emperor.

It was widely believed that in 1610 Henry was preparing to escalate the war against theHoly Roman Empire,which was prevented by his assassination and the subsequent rapprochement with Spain under the regency ofMarie de' Medici.

Ottoman Empire

Bilingual Franco-Turkish translation of the 1604Franco-Ottoman Capitulationsbetween SultanAhmed Iand Henry IV of France, published byFrançois Savary de Brèves(1615)[37]

Even before Henry's accession to the French throne, the French Huguenots were in contact with AragoneseMoriscosin plans against the Habsburg government of Spain in the 1570s.[38]Around 1575, plans were made for a combined attack of Aragonese Moriscos and Huguenots fromBéarnunder Henry against SpanishAragon,in agreement with the Dey ofAlgiersand theOttoman Empire,but this project floundered with the arrival ofJohn of Austriain Aragon and the disarmament of the Moriscos.[39][40]In 1576, a three-pronged Ottoman fleet fromConstantinoplewas planned to disembark betweenMurciaandValenciawhile the French Huguenots would invade from the north and the Moriscos accomplish their uprising, but the fleet failed to arrive.[39]

After his crowning, Henry continued the policy of aFranco-Ottoman allianceand received an embassy from SultanMehmed IIIin 1601.[41][42]In 1604, a "Peace Treaty andCapitulation"was signed between Henry IV and the Ottoman SultanAhmed I,granting France numerous advantages in the Ottoman Empire.[42]

In 1606–07, Henry IV sentArnoult de Lisleas Ambassador toMoroccoto request the observance of past friendship treaties. An embassy was sent toOttoman Tunisiain 1608 led byFrançois Savary de Brèves.[43]

East Asia

Further information:France-Asia relations

Under Henry IV, various enterprises were set up to develop long-distance trade. In December 1600, a company was formed through the association ofSaint-Malo,Laval,andVitréto trade with theMoluccasand Japan.[44]Two ships, theCroissantand theCorbin,were sent around theCape of Good Hopein May 1601. TheCorbinwas wrecked in theMaldives,leading to the adventure ofFrançois Pyrard de Laval,who managed to return to France in 1611.[44][45]TheCroissant,carryingFrançois Martin de Vitré,reachedCeylonand traded withAcehinSumatra,but was captured by the Dutch on the return leg atCape Finisterre.[44][45]François Martin de Vitré was the first Frenchman to write an account of travels to the Far East in 1604, at the request of Henry IV.[46]

From 1604 to 1609, following the return of François Martin de Vitré, Henry attempted to set up aFrench East India Companyon the model of England and the Netherlands.[45][46][47]On 1 June 1604, he issued letters patent toDieppemerchants to form theDieppe Company,giving them exclusive rights to Asian trade for 15 years, but no ships were sent until 1616.[44]In 1609, another adventurer,Pierre-Olivier Malherbe,returned from a circumnavigation of the globe and informed Henry of his adventures.[46]He had visited China and India, and met with EmperorAkbar.[46]

Religion

Historians have assessed that Henry IV was a convincedCalvinist,and only changed his formal religious confession to achieve his political goals.

Henry IV was baptized as aCatholicon 5 January 1554. He was raised in the Reformed Tradition by his motherJeanne III of Navarre.In 1572, after the massacre of French Calvinists, he was forced byCatherine de' Mediciand the royal court to convert. In 1576, after escaping from Paris, he abjured Catholicism and returned to Calvinism. In 1593, to gain recognition asKing of France,he converted again to Catholicism. Although a formal Catholic, he valued his Calvinist upbringing and was tolerant toward theHuguenotsuntil his death in 1610, and issued theEdict of Nanteswhich granted them many concessions.

Nicknames

Henry IV,Musée des Augustins

Henry wasnicknamedHenrile Grand(the Great), and in France is also calledle bon roi Henri(good king Henry) andle vert galant(The Green Gallant) for his numerous mistresses.[33][48]In English he is most often referred to as Henry of Navarre.

Relationship with Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency

In 1609, Henry had grown infatuated withCharlotte Marguerite de Montmorency,Princess of Condé,much to the chagrin of her husband,Henry II, Prince of Condé.On 28 November 1609, the Prince and Princess fled toBrusselsin theSpanish Netherlands.King Henry was furious, and believed that the Prince was conspiring against him, so he threatened to raise an army of 60,000 to capture him and bring back the princess. This corresponded with the War of the Jülich Succession, so it added to the tension, especially with Spain.[36]

Assassination

Though generally well-liked, Henry was considered a heretical usurper by some Catholics and a traitor to their faith by some Protestants.[49]Henry was the target of at least 12 assassination attempts, including byPierre Barrièrein August 1593[50]and byJean Châtelin December 1594.[51]

Henry was killed in Paris on 14 May 1610 byFrançois Ravaillac,a Catholic zealot who stabbed him while his coach was stopped onRue de la Ferronnerie.The carriage was stopped by traffic congestion associated with the Queen's coronation ceremony, as depicted in the engraving byGaspar Bouttats.[52][53]Hercule de Rohan,riding in the coach with the king, was wounded in the attack but survived. Ravaillac was immediately seized, and executed days later. Henry was buried at theSaint Denis Basilica.

His widow,Marie de' Medici,served as regent for their nine-year-old son,Louis XIII,until 1617.[54]

  • Assassination of Henry IV,
    engraving byGaspar Bouttats
  • His assassin, François Ravaillac, brandishing his dagger
  • Pierre Firens - "Le Roi Est Mort continues at the Palace of Versailles". 1610
  • Lying in state at theLouvre,engraving afterFrançois Quesnel

Legacy

Henri IV,Marie de' Mediciand family
Relief of Henry IV on the facade of theHôtel de Ville, Lyon

In 1614, four years after Henry IV's death, hisstatuewas erected on thePont Neuf.During the early phase of theFrench Revolution,when it aimed to create aconstitutional monarchyrather than a republic, Henry IV was held up as a model for KingLouis XVI.When the Revolution radicalized and came to reject monarchy altogether, Henry IV's statue was torn down along with other royal monuments. It was nevertheless the first to be rebuilt, in 1818, and it still stands on the Pont Neuf today.[55]

Henry IV was much lauded during theBourbon Restoration,as the restored dynasty was keen to play down the controversial reigns ofLouis XVandLouis XVIin favor of Good King Henry.[56]The songMarche Henri IV(Long Live Henry IV) was popular.[57]After the assassination of thedauphinCharles Ferdinand, Duke of Berryby a Republican fanatic, seven months later his widowPrincess Carolinegave birth totheir son,heir to the throne of France, and conspicuously named him Henri after his royal forefather. The boy was baptised withJurançon wineand garlic in the tradition of Béarn and Navarre, as Henry IV had been baptised in Pau.[58]

Henry serves as a loose inspiration for the character Ferdinand, King of Navarre, in William Shakespeare's 1590s playLove's Labour's Lost.[59]

Equestrian portraitof Henry IV of France with a view ofParisto the north of theRiver Seine.To his left, the Bullant Pavilion of theTuileries Palace,and In the background,Montmartre Abbey.To his right, the Tour du Bois behind thewall of Charles V,and further right, theLouvre Palace,c. 1595

A 1661 biography,Histoire du Roy Henry le Grand,[60]was written byHardouin de Péréfixe de Beaumontfor the edification of Henry's grandsonLouis XIV.[citation needed][61]A 1663 English translation was published for another grandson, KingCharles II of England.[62]

On 14 September 1788, when anti-tax riots broke out during the incipientFrench Revolution,rioters stopped travellers and demanded they dismount to salute Henry IV's statue.[63]

Henry's minister Sully published hisRoyal Economiesin 1611 after de Sully's fall from power, but subsequent research has shown that it exaggerates the economic accomplishments of Sully's ministry. Many of the official source documents were altered, or even forged to make them more impressive.[64]

Genealogy

Main article:Henry IV of France's succession

Ancestry

Marriages and legitimate children

Main articles:Descendants of Henry IV of FranceandHenry IV of France's wives and mistresses

On 18 August 1572, Henry married his second cousinMargaret of Valois.The marriage was not a happy one, and the couple was childless. Henry and Margaret separated even before Henry acceded to the throne in August 1589; Margaret retired to theChâteau d'Ussonin theAuvergneand lived there for many years. After Henry became king of France, it was of the utmost importance that he provide an heir to the crown to avoid the problem of a disputed succession.

Henry favoured the idea of obtaining an annulment of his marriage to Margaret and marrying his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées, who had already borne him three children. Henry's councillors strongly opposed this idea, but the matter was resolved unexpectedly by Gabrielle's sudden death in the early hours of 10 April 1599, after she had given birth to a premature stillborn son. His marriage to Margaret was annulled in 1599. On 17 December 1600, Henry marriedMarie de' Medici,daughter ofFrancesco I de' Medici,Grand Duke of Tuscany,andArchduchess Joanna of Austria.[66]

For theroyal entryof Marie intoAvignonon 19 November 1600, the citizens bestowed on Henry the title of theHercule Gaulois( "Gallic Hercules" ), concocting a genealogy that traced the House of Navarre back to a nephew ofHercules' sonHispalus.[67]

His marriage to Marie de' Medici produced six children:

Name Birth Death Notes
Louis XIII, King of France[68] 27 September 1601 14 May 1643 MarriedAnne of Austriain 1615
Elisabeth, Queen of Spain 22 November 1602 6 October 1644 MarriedPhilip IV, King of Spain,in 1615
Christine Marie, Duchess of Savoy 10 February 1606 27 December 1663 MarriedVictor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy,in 1619
Monsieur d'Orléans 16 April 1607 17 November 1611 Never baptised or named; sometimes erroneously called "Nicolas."
Gaston, Duke of Orléans 25 April 1608 2 February 1660 Married (1)Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier,in 1626
Married (2)Marguerite of Lorrainein 1632
Henrietta Maria, Queen of England, Queen of Scots, and Queen of Ireland 25 November 1609 10 September 1669 MarriedCharles I, King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland,in 1625
Henry IV and Marie de' Medici

Armorial

The arms of Henry IV changed throughout his lifetime:

  • From 1562,
    as Prince of Béarn and Duke of Vendôme
  • From 1572,
    as King of Navarre
  • From 1589,
    as King of France and Navarre (also used by his successors)
  • Grand Royal Coat of Arms of Henry and the House of Bourbon as Kings of France and Navarre (1589–1789)

References

  1. ^Pitts 2009,p. 1.
  2. ^Pitts 2009,p. 334.
  3. ^Kamen 2000,p. 145.
  4. ^abDupuy, Johnson & Bongard 1995,p. 326.
  5. ^Knecht 1998,p. 153.
  6. ^Baird 1886,p. 269 (vol. 1).
  7. ^Baird 1886,p. 431 (vol. 1).
  8. ^Baird 1886,p.96(vol. 2).
  9. ^Baird 1886,p.103(vol. 2).
  10. ^Baird 1886,p.156–157(vol. 2).
  11. ^Knecht 2014,p. 238.
  12. ^Baird 1886,p.180(vol. 2).
  13. ^Baird 1886,p.181(vol. 2).
  14. ^Holt, Mack P.,The French Wars of Religion, 1562–2011,(Cambridge University Press,1995), p. 148
  15. ^Ranke, Leopold.Civil Wars and Monarchy in France,p. 467
  16. ^Holt 1995,p. 149.
  17. ^Alistair Horne,Seven Ages of Paris,Random House (2004)
  18. ^F.P.G.Guizot(1787–1874)A Popular History of France...,gutenberg.org
  19. ^Janel Mueller & Joshua Scodel, eds,Elizabeth I,University of Chicago Press (2009)
  20. ^G. de Berthier de Savigny in hisHistoire de France(1977 p. 167) claims that the Calvinists in revenge attributed the phrase to him.
  21. ^Désalmand, Paul; Stalloni, Yves (2009).Petit Inventaire des Citations Malmenées(in French). Albin Michel.ISBN9782226193278.[page needed]
  22. ^Knecht 2013,p. 269.
  23. ^Knecht 2013,p. 270.
  24. ^de La Croix 1979,pp. 179–180.
  25. ^Babelon 2009,p. 726.
  26. ^Major 1974,p. 11.
  27. ^abParker 1979,p. 117.
  28. ^Le Roux 2022,p. 371.
  29. ^Babelon 2009,p. 727.
  30. ^Pernot 1987,p. 171.
  31. ^Briggs 1977,pp. 33–34.
  32. ^Parker 1979,p. 120.
  33. ^abHarris, Carolyn (August 2017). "The Queen's land".Canada's History.97(4): 34–43.ISSN1920-9894.
  34. ^de La Croix 1979,p. 182.
  35. ^abParker 1979,pp. 122–124.
  36. ^abcdefAnderson, Alison D. (1999).On the verge of war: international relations and the Jülich-Kleve succession crises (1609–1614).Studies in Central European histories. Boston: Humanities Press.ISBN978-0-391-04092-2.
  37. ^Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1989).The Encyclopaedia of Islam: Fascicules 111–112: Masrah Mawlid.Brill. p. 799.ISBN978-9004092396.Retrieved19 December2010.
  38. ^Kaplan, Benjamin J; Emerson, Michael O (2007).Divided by Faith.Harvard University Press. p. 311.ISBN978-0674024304.Retrieved19 December2010.
  39. ^abLea, Henry Charles (1999).The Moriscos of Spain: Their Conversion and Expulsion.Adegi Graphics LLC. p. 281.ISBN978-0543959713.
  40. ^L.P. Harvey (2008).Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614.University of Chicago Press. p. 343.ISBN978-0226319650.Retrieved19 December2010.
  41. ^Gocek, Fatma Muge (1987).East Encounters West: France and the Ottoman Empire in the Eighteenth Century.Oxford University Press. p. 9.ISBN978-0195364330.
  42. ^abZiegler, Karl-Heinz[in German](2004)."The peace treaties of the Ottoman Empire with European Christian powers".InLesaffer, Randall(ed.).Peace Treaties and International Law in European History: From the Late Middle Ages to World War One.Cambridge University Press.p. 343.ISBN978-0-521-82724-9.
  43. ^Moalla, Asma (2003).The Regency of Tunis and the Ottoman Porte, 1777–1814: Army and Government of a North-African Eyâlet at the End of the Eighteenth Century.SUNY Press. p. 59.ISBN978-0203987223.
  44. ^abcdAsia in the Making of Europe, Volume III: A Century of Advance. Book 1,Donald F. Lachpp. 93–94[1]
  45. ^abcNewton, Arthur Percival (1936).The Cambridge History of the British Empire, volume 2.p. 61.Retrieved19 December2010.
  46. ^abcdLach, Donald F; Van Kley, Edwin J (1998).Asia in the Making of Europe.University of Chicago Press. p. 393.ISBN978-0226467658.Retrieved19 December2010.
  47. ^A history of modern India, 1480–1950,Claude Markovits p. 144: The account of the experiences of François Martin de Vitré "incited the king to create a company in the image of that of the United Provinces"
  48. ^l'Académie française: Dictionnaire de la langue française (Institut de France. 6th edition. 1835):'C'est un vert galant' se dit d'un homme vif, alerte, qui aime beaucoup les femmes et qui s'empresse à leur plaire.É.Littré: Dictionnaire Française (Hachette. 1863):Hommme vif, alerte, vigoreux et particulièrement empressé auprès de femmes.Grand Larousse de la Langue Française (Paris. 1973):Homme entreprenant auprès de femmes.And see Discussion under the heading Vert Galant – A look at the Dictionaries
  49. ^Pierre Miquel,Les Guerres de religion,Paris, Club France Loisirs (1980)ISBN2-7242-0785-8,p. 399
  50. ^Baird 1886,p.367(vol. 2).
  51. ^Baird 1886,p.368(vol. 2).
  52. ^de l'Estoile, Pierre.Journal du règne de Henri IV.Paris: Gallimard, 1960. p. 84
  53. ^Knecht, Robert J. "The Murder ofle roi Henri".History Today,May 2010.
  54. ^Moote 1989,p. 41.
  55. ^Thompson, Victoria E. (2012)."The Creation, Destruction and Recreation of Henri IV: Seeing Popular Sovereignty in the Statue of a King".History and Memory.24(2): 5–40.doi:10.2979/histmemo.24.2.5.ISSN0935-560X.JSTOR10.2979/histmemo.24.2.5.S2CID159942339.
  56. ^Jones, Kimberly A. (1993)."Henri IV and the Decorative Arts of the Bourbon Restoration, 1814–1830: A Study in Politics and Popular Taste".Studies in the Decorative Arts.1(1): 2–21.doi:10.1086/studdecoarts.1.1.40662302.ISSN1069-8825.JSTOR40662302.S2CID156578524.
  57. ^"Vive Henri IV!"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 6 January 2017.Retrieved11 November2021.
  58. ^"Henri IV baptisé à l'ail et au Jurançon / L'Histoire étonnante / Histoire thématique | Prohistoire".prohistoire.fr(in French).Retrieved23 June2024.
  59. ^G.R. Hibbard(editor),Love's Labour's Lost(Oxford University Press,1990), p. 49
  60. ^Perefixe, Hardouin de Beaumont (1664).Histoire du Roy Henry le Grand(3rd ed.). Amsterdam: Daniel Elzevier.
  61. ^Hardouin, Paul Philippe (1661).Histoire de Henri-le-Grand, roi de France et de Navarre: suivie d'un recueil de quelques belles actions et paroles mémorables de ce prince(PDF)(Réédition ed.). Nîmes: C. Lacour.
  62. ^"The life of Henry the Fourth of France, Translated from the French of Perefix, by m. le moine, One of his most Christian Majesty's Gentlemen in Ordinary by Perefixe de Beaumont, Paul Philippe Hardouin de]: (1785) | Antiquates Ltd – ABA, ILAB".abebooks.com.Retrieved11 November2021.
  63. ^Peter Kropotkin (1909). "Chapter 5".The Great French Revolution, 1789–1793.Translated by N. F. Dryhurst. New York: Vanguard Printings.Three weeks later, September 14, 1788, when the retirement of Lamoignon became known, the riotings were renewed. The mob rushed to set fire to the houses of the two ministers, Lamoignon and Brienne, as well as to that of Dubois. The troops were called out, and in the Rue Mélée and the Rue de Grenelle there was a horrible slaughter of poor folk who could not defend themselves. Dubois fled from Paris. "The people themselves would execute justice," said Les deux amis de la liberté. Later still, in October 1788, when the parlement that had been banished to Troyes was recalled, "the clerks and the populace" illuminated the Place Dauphine for several evenings in succession. They demanded money from the passersby to expend on fireworks, and forced gentlemen to alight from their carriages to salute the statue of Henri Quatre.
  64. ^Parker 1979,p. 115.
  65. ^Thompson, Neil D.; Hansen, Charles M. (2012).The Ancestry of Charles II, King of England.American Society of Genealogists.
  66. ^Pitts 2009,p. 229.
  67. ^The official account,Labyrinthe royal...quoted inJean Seznec,The Survival of the Pagan Gods,(B.F. Sessions, tr., 1995) p. 26
  68. ^Pitts 2009,p. 335.

Works cited

Further reading

Fiction

Henry III of Navarre & IV of France
Cadet branch of theCapetian dynasty
Born:13 December 1553Died:14 May 1610
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Navarre
9 June 1572 – 14 May 1610 		Succeeded by
Preceded by King of France
2 August 1589 – 14 May 1610
French nobility
Preceded by Duke of Vendômeand Beaumont
Count of Marle, La Fère, and Soissons
17 November 1562 – 2 August 1589 		Merged into thecrown
Preceded by Duke of Albret
Count of Foix,Armagnac,
Comminges,Bigorre,
Limoges, and Périgord
Viscount of Béarn
Lord of Donezan
9 June 1572 – 2 August 1589
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