Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France, also known as Henry of Navarre, was born in 1553 in Pau, France. He was the son of Antoine of Bourbon and Jeanne d'Albret, the Queen of Navarre. He was raised as a Protestant and became the leader of the Huguenot (Protestant) forces in the French Wars of Religion. In 1589, Henry became king of France after the assassination of King Henry III. However, his Protestant beliefs were unpopular among Catholics, and he faced several assassination attempts and rebellions during his reign. In 1593, he converted to Catholicism in order to unite the country and put an end to the religious wars. During his reign, Henry IV implemented a series of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the French people, including reducing taxes, creating a national bank, and promoting the arts and sciences. He also established religious tolerance through the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which granted freedom of worship to Protestants. Henry IV is perhaps best known for his military campaigns, including the successful Siege of La Rochelle in 1627, which ended the Huguenot Rebellion. He was also known for his love affairs, including with his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées and his second wife Marie de' Medici. Henry IV was assassinated in 1610 by a religious fanatic, François Ravaillac. His legacy includes his role in ending the French Wars of Religion, implementing political and economic reforms, and promoting religious tolerance.
