Henry IV of France

As King Henry III of Navarre, he had married Margaret of Valois, the daughter of King Henri II of France, on August 18, 1572. However, the couple mostly lived apart and did not have any issue.

In1590, the king met Gabrielle d'Estrées and fell in love with her. Although the king was already married, the couple was openly affectionate to each other. Gabrielle even accompanied the king on his war expeditions and took personal care of him. She had three children by him.

It soon became apparent that Henry IV should have a legitimate successor. Although he wanted to annul his marriage with Margaret and marry Gabrielle but his councilors did not agree. However, the problem was solved by Gabriell’s death in 1599.

King Henry IV of France was born on December 13, 1553 to Queen Joan III of Navarre and Bearn and her consort King Antoine de Bourbon in Pau. The couple had five children, out of which Henry III of Navarre was born second. Through his father’s side, he was a direct descendent of the thirteenth century king, Louis IX of France.

Henry III’ of Navarre’s elder brother Henry, Duke of Beaumont died at the age of two in 1553 and his younger brother Louis Charles, Count of Marle died in 1557. This made him the only surviving son of the reigning queen. Since Antoine de Bourbon was a Catholic, Henry III was baptized as one.

From 1561 to 1566 Henry III of Navarre spent a lot of time with his second cousins, the children of King Henry II of France. He was brought back to Bearn when he turned 13. His military education began around the same time. The queen, who was a follower of John Calvin, began to bring him up as a Protestant.

By that time, the conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics had started. In the autumn of 1567, the queen launched an expedition against the rebellious Catholic gentry in South Navarre. Henri III, who was then around fourteen years old, became its nominal head.

Henri III of Navarre went on another expedition in 1568; this time under the leadership of his brother in law Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé. However, they were defeated on March 30, 1569. The young Prince then had further military education under Gaspard de Coligny.

Henri’s father Antoine de Bourbon had already passed away in 1562. On his mother’s death in 1572, Henri now ascended the throne of Navarre and began to be known as Henri III of Navarre and Sovereign Lord of Bearn.

Henri’s marriage to Margaret of Valois took place on August 18, 1572. It was followed by massacre of several thousand Protestants, who came to Paris for the wedding. Known in the history as Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, it spread to other parts of the country in no time.

King Henri III of Navarre escaped death narrowly; but had to promise to become a Catholic. Moreover, he was confined to the French Court until 1576 and then escaped.

On leaving Paris the King revered back to the Protestant Church. By the end of the year, the civil war broke out once again. The King of Navarre displayed extreme common sense and convinced his co-religionists to accept the Treaty of Bergerac on September 17, 1577.

Prince Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, the brother and heir to reigning king Henry III of France, died on June 10, 1584. With his death, Henri III of Navarre became the ‘heir presumptive’ to the throne of France. Henry III of France did not have any other option but to accept him as his successor.

Finally, on the advice of his long time mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées Henry III of Navarre decided to reconvert to Catholicism. On July 25, 1593 he announced his intention and became acceptable to vast majority of his subjects.

On February 27, 1594 King Henry III of Navarre was crowned as King Henry IV of France at the Cathedral of Chartres. However, the League of Nobles was still very strong and aided by the King of Spain, they continued their rebellion. Therefore, in January, 1595, the new King declared war on them.

By June, 1595, he had defeated the remaining nobles and their Spanish allies at Fontaine-Française in Burgundy. By 1597, he had captured Amien. On May 2, 1598 the Peace of Vervins was reached between France and Spain. King Henry IV of France now had time to concentrate on restoring order and bringing prosperity to his new kingdom.