Henry IV of France, also known as Henry the Great, was born on December 13, 1553, and reigned as King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the House of Bourbon, which would rule France for nearly two centuries.
Born in Pau, Kingdom of Navarre, Henry was the son of Antoine of Navarre and Jeanne d'Albret. His mother was a staunch Protestant, which shaped his religious views. Henry was baptized as a Catholic but raised as a Protestant, which would become a significant factor in his reign.
Upon the death of his mother in 1572, Henry succeeded as King of Navarre. His claim to the French throne came through his descent from Saint Louis, through the marriage of his grandfather with a granddaughter of Louis IX. However, his Protestant faith posed an obstacle to his acceptance by the predominantly Catholic French nobility.
The French Wars of Religion were a series of conflicts primarily between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants), during which Henry IV played a pivotal role. His conversion to Catholicism in 1593 with the famous phrase "Paris vaut bien une messe" ("Paris is well worth a Mass") was a pragmatic move to secure the French throne. He was crowned King of France in 1594.
Henry IV's reign was marked by efforts to restore peace and prosperity to France:
Henry IV was assassinated on May 14, 1610, by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic, as he was traveling in his carriage in Paris. His death ended a period of relative peace and stability, leaving his son, the future Louis XIII, to succeed him under the regency of Marie de' Medici.
Henry IV is often remembered for his wisdom, courage, and for being a peacemaker. His policies laid the groundwork for the subsequent absolutist rule of Louis XIV. His conversion to Catholicism while maintaining protections for Protestants was a significant step towards religious coexistence in France.