Henry IV of France

Henry IV was born on 13 December 1553 in Pau, the capital of the autonomous province of Béarn in southwestern France. He was the son of Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme and King of Navarre, and Jeanne d'Albret, Queen regnant of Navarre. He was baptised as a Catholic but raised as a Protestant by his mother, who was a leader of the Huguenot party. He inherited the throne of Navarre in 1572 after his mother's death. Henry was involved in the French Wars of Religion, a series of civil wars between Catholics and Protestants that lasted from 1562 to 1598. He fought against the Catholic League, a coalition of powerful nobles and clergy who opposed the Protestant minority and the royal authority. He became the leader of the Huguenot forces after the death of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny in 1572. He barely escaped assassination in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, a coordinated attack on Protestants across France that killed thousands. He married Margaret of Valois, the sister of King Charles IX, as part of a peace agreement between Catholics and Protestants, but their marriage was unhappy and later annulled. Henry became the heir presumptive to the French throne in 1584 after the death of Francis, Duke of Anjou, the last brother of King Henry III. However, his Protestant faith made him unacceptable to most Catholics, who supported Henry III's cousin Henry I, Duke of Guise. The Catholic League declared Henry IV ineligible for the succession and proclaimed Henry III deposed. Henry III tried to reconcile with Henry IV and formed an alliance with him against the Guises. They besieged Paris together in 1589, but Henry III was assassinated by a fanatical monk named Jacques Clément. Henry IV became King of France upon Henry III's death, but he faced fierce opposition from most Catholics who refused to recognize him as their legitimate sovereign. He had to fight against the Catholic League and its allies Spain and the Pope for his right to rule. He was excommunicated by Pope Sixtus V and faced several assassination attempts. He decided to convert to Catholicism in 1593 to end the religious conflict and gain the support of the majority of his subjects. He reportedly said "Paris is well worth a mass" when he abjured Protestantism at Saint-Denis. His conversion was accepted by most Catholics but rejected by some hardline Protestants who considered him a traitor. Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which granted religious freedom and civil rights to Protestants within certain limits. The edict effectively ended the French Wars of Religion and established a lasting peace in France. Henry IV also pursued a policy of reconciliation and forgiveness towards his former enemies. He pardoned many nobles who had rebelled against him and restored their lands and titles. He also sought to reduce the influence of Spain and the Habsburgs in Europe and supported Protestant states such as England and the Dutch Republic. Henry IV was an active and popular ruler who worked to restore the prosperity and stability of France after decades of war and turmoil. He appointed Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, as his chief minister and trusted adviser. Together, they reformed the administration and finances of the kingdom, promoted agriculture, trade and industry, and improved the infrastructure and communication. Henry IV also encouraged the colonization of the Americas and founded the French colonies of Acadia and Quebec. He supported the arts and culture and patronized many writers and artists. He was known as a generous and charismatic king who cared for the welfare of his people. He was nicknamed "the Great" by his admirers and "the Good" by the common folk. Henry IV was assassinated on 14 May 1610 by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic who stabbed him in his coach as he was driving through Paris. He was mourned by many Frenchmen who regarded him as one of their greatest kings. He was buried in the Basilica of St Denis, the traditional resting place of French monarchs. He was succeeded by his son Louis XIII, who was only nine years old at the time. His widow Marie de' Medici acted as regent until Louis XIII came of age in 1617.