HENRI IV

Henri IV King of France (b1553 - d1610) should not be confused with Henry IV King of England (b1367 - d1513). Henry IV King of England was the subject of a play by William Skakespeare.

Confusion may arise because Kings of England tended to also be crowned Kings of France, even though their names do not appear as monarchs of France in French history books.

At the time that King Henri IV of France inherited the French throne from King Henri III of France, he was already King Henri III of Navarre. King Henri III of France was the last of the Valois line of French Kings, while King Henri IV of France was the first of the new Bourbon dynasty.

When King Henri II of Navarre died in 1555, his daughter Jean d'Albret inherited the crown of Navarre as well as control over Bearn. When Jean died in 1572, her crown passed to her son Henri, who now had the title King Henri III of Navarre.

A picture of a bust of King Henri IV of France as he looked in his later years

In 1572, Henri of Navarre married Marguerite Valois, sister of three of the Valois Kings including the last one, King Henri III of France. Henri of Navarre (a protestant) escaped being murdered as part of the St. Bartholomew's day massacres (which took place during his wedding celebrations in Paris), by converting to the Catholic faith.

Henri later escaped and reverted back to Protestantism.

He inherited the crown in 1589, when King Henri III of France was assassinated, however he was not crowned until 1594. King Henri IV of France converted to the Catholic church for a second time, in order to secure his throne.

His first marriage produced no children. His second marriage to Marie de Medici produced six. This included his first legitimate son, who in 1610, inherited the throne of France at the age of nine as Louis XIII, when his father King Henri III of Navarre / King Henri IV of France was assassinated.

History remembers Henri as a popular King who cared about his people, repaired the finances of France and reduced religious conflict. He is often referred to as King Henri the Great of France.

For more information see www.henri-iv.com