Henry of Navarre abjures Catholicism at Tours and rejoins the Protestant forces in the French Wars of Religion.

Henry IV (French: Henri IV; born 13 December 1553, assassinated 14 May 1610), widely celebrated as "Good King Henry" or "Henry the Great," was a pivotal figure in French history, serving as King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and subsequently as King of France from 1589 until his untimely death in 1610. His reign marked a transformative era for France, bringing an end to decades of devastating religious civil wars and laying the groundwork for a more unified and prosperous kingdom.

He was the inaugural monarch of France from the influential House of Bourbon, a cadet branch of the ancient Capetian dynasty. This ascension represented a significant dynastic shift, as the Valois line, which had ruled France for over 250 years, came to an end with his predecessor, Henry III.

Assassination of Henry IV

Tragically, Henry IV's reign was cut short when he was assassinated in Paris on 14 May 1610 by François Ravaillac, a zealous Catholic. Ravaillac's motive stemmed from a fanatical belief that Henry was preparing to wage war against the Pope and the Catholic Habsburg powers, particularly Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, a move he perceived as a betrayal of the Catholic faith. Henry's death plunged France into a period of regency under his second wife, Marie de' Medici, until his young son, Louis XIII, came of age to rule.

Early Life and Rise to Power

A Unique Upbringing Amidst Religious Strife

Born into a complex religious landscape, Henry was the son of Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, and Jeanne d'Albret, the formidable Queen of Navarre. Although he was initially baptised a Catholic, his devoutly Calvinist mother, Jeanne d'Albret – a key leader of the Huguenot cause – ensured he was primarily raised in the Protestant faith. This unique upbringing positioned him at the heart of the religious conflicts that ravaged France. He inherited the throne of Navarre in 1572 upon his mother's death, just months before the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.

Involvement in the French Wars of Religion

As a prominent Huguenot (a French Protestant), Henry was deeply embroiled in the protracted French Wars of Religion (1562–1598). His marriage to Margaret of Valois, King Charles IX's sister, in August 1572 was intended to reconcile Catholics and Protestants, but it disastrously coincided with the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. During this horrific event, thousands of Huguenots were slaughtered in Paris and across France. Henry narrowly escaped assassination only by converting to Catholicism under duress and remaining a virtual prisoner at the French court for several years. He later recanted his forced conversion and, by 1576, had escaped and rejoined the Protestant forces, eventually becoming their military and political leader against the royal army.

Succession to the French Throne

Henry IV's claim to the French throne was rooted in his direct lineage from King Louis IX (Saint Louis). Both Henry and his predecessor, Henry III of France, were descendants of Louis IX, but through different branches of the Capetian dynasty. Henry III belonged to the House of Valois, tracing his ancestry through Philip III, the elder son of Saint Louis. In contrast, Henry IV belonged to the House of Bourbon, descended from Robert, Count of Clermont, the younger son of Saint Louis. As the most senior male descendant of Louis IX from a legitimate branch, Henry was recognized as the "first prince of the blood." When his brother-in-law and distant cousin, Henry III, died without an heir in 1589, Henry IV was unequivocally designated as the legitimate successor to the French crown under Salic law, which prohibited female succession and ensured male primogeniture.

A Pragmatic Monarch: Conversion and Peace

"Paris is Well Worth a Mass"

Despite his legitimate claim, Henry IV faced significant opposition from the powerful Catholic League, who refused to accept a Protestant king. For four years (1589-1593), France endured a bitter stalemate, with Henry unable to fully secure his capital or the loyalty of a predominantly Catholic nation. Displaying remarkable political pragmatism, Henry made the momentous decision in 1593 to convert to Catholicism. This conversion is famously associated with the apocryphal but widely quoted phrase, "Paris is well worth a mass" (Paris vaut bien une messe), encapsulating his belief that political stability and national unity outweighed personal religious conviction. As a key figure among the "politiques" – a faction advocating for a strong monarchy and civil peace over religious dogma – Henry IV understood that true mastery over his kingdom necessitated religious reconciliation.

The Edict of Nantes: A Landmark of Tolerance

His commitment to peace culminated in the promulgation of the landmark Edict of Nantes in 1598. This royal decree, a revolutionary act for its time, granted substantial religious liberties and rights to Protestants (Huguenots) throughout France, though Catholicism remained the official state religion. The Edict allowed Protestants:

The Edict of Nantes effectively brought the destructive French Wars of Religion to a definitive end, ushering in an era of relative peace and religious coexistence that lasted until its revocation by Louis XIV in 1685.

Reforms, Colonization, and Lasting Legacy

Domestic Policies and Achievements

Henry IV proved to be an exceptionally active and transformative ruler. Recognizing the devastation wrought by decades of war, he worked tirelessly to rebuild France. His key domestic policies and achievements included:

Beginnings of French Colonization in the Americas

Beyond France's borders, Henry IV's reign marked the true genesis of French colonization in the Americas. Under his patronage, the foundations of the colonies of Acadia (modern-day Nova Scotia, Canada) and Canada itself were established. Key settlements included Port-Royal (1605) and Quebec City (1608), founded by Samuel de Champlain, which would become the cornerstone of New France, significantly expanding France's global influence.

Enduring Cultural Impact

Henry IV's enduring legacy as a pragmatic, unifying, and benevolent monarch earned him the epithet "Good King Henry." His memory is cherished in French popular culture, notably in the popular patriotic song "Vive le roi Henri" ("Long Live King Henry"), which evolved into an unofficial anthem for the French monarchy during the reigns of his Bourbon successors. His reign and character were also immortalized in literary works, most notably in Voltaire's epic philosophical poem, "La Henriade" (1723), which praises him as an enlightened and tolerant sovereign who brought peace and prosperity to a fractured nation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Henry IV

Who was Henry IV?
Henry IV was the King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610, the first monarch from the House of Bourbon, renowned for ending the French Wars of Religion and initiating a period of recovery and expansion.
Why was Henry IV called "Good King Henry" or "Henry the Great"?
He earned these epithets for his efforts to restore peace and prosperity to France after decades of civil war, his pragmatic approach to religious conflict (Edict of Nantes), and his focus on improving the lives of his subjects and strengthening the kingdom's finances and infrastructure.
What was the significance of the Edict of Nantes?
Promulgated by Henry IV in 1598, the Edict of Nantes granted significant religious and civil liberties to Protestants (Huguenots) in France, effectively ending the French Wars of Religion and establishing a groundbreaking precedent for religious tolerance in Europe at the time.
Why did Henry IV convert to Catholicism?
Henry IV converted to Catholicism in 1593 to gain full acceptance as King of France, as the powerful Catholic League and the majority of the population refused to accept a Protestant monarch. His conversion, famously summarized as "Paris is well worth a mass," was a pragmatic political move to unite the kingdom.
How did Henry IV contribute to French colonization?
Under his reign, the first permanent French settlements in North America were established, including Port-Royal (Acadia) in 1605 and Quebec City in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, marking the true beginning of the French colonial empire in the Americas.