HENRI IV
(13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610)
Henri de Bourbon was born in Pau, the capital of the French province of
Béarn, in the Kingdom of Navarre. Later he was Henri IV, King of France from
1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of
the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France.
As a Huguenot, Henry was involved in the Wars of Religion before ascending
the throne in 1589. Before his coronation as King of France at Chartres, he
changed his faith from Calvinism to Catholicism and, in 1598, he enacted the
Edict of Nantes, which guaranteed religious liberties to the Protestants,
thereby effectively ending the civil war. Henri's first marriage with Marguerite
of Valois had not been a successful and had not produced an heir. In 1599, the
marriage between Henri and Catherine de Medici daughter, Marguerite, was
annulled.
In the autumn of 1600, Henri married Marie de Medici from Florence. This
marriage was more fruitful and produced several children, the first being born
on the 27th of September 1601, the future Louis XIII of France.
Because Henri planned to be absent for long periods on state business, Marie
of Medici was crowned as Queen on the 13th of May 1610, so that she could act in
his place while he was away.
On the 14th of May 1610 in Paris, Francois Ravaillac stepped out the shadows
and stabbed Henri IV of France to death. Henri's son Louis XIII was still only
eight years old, so Marie was appointed as Regent. Much like Catherine de Medici
had before her, Marie de Medici now became the power behind the throne of
France.
Henri IV is one of the most popular French kings, both during and after his
reign. Henry showed great care for the welfare of his subjects and displayed an
unusual religious tolerance for the time. He was the inspiration behind King
Ferdinand of Navarre in William Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost.
0 comentários:
Post a Comment