by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Françoise d’Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon, source: Wikipedia

Françoise d’Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon, was the second and morganatic wife of King Louis XIV of France. She was born in Niort, France, on November 27, 1635, to Constant d’Aubigné and Jeanne de Cardilhac. At the time she was born, her father was imprisoned for conspiring against Cardinal Richelieu. Françoise was baptized in the Catholic Church, with Suzanne de Baudéan (daughter of the Comtesse de Neuillant) and the Duc de la Rochefoucauld serving as her godparents.

When her father was released from prison in 1639, the family traveled to Martinique where they spent the next several years. After the deaths of both of her parents, Françoise was raised by her father’s sister Louise, Madame de Villette, who continued her Protestant education. When her godmother Suzanne de Baudéan, then in the service of Queen Anne, the wife of King Louis XIII of France, found out about this, she quickly ordered that Françoise be moved to a convent to receive a Catholic education. Although she hated the convent, Françoise became close to one of the nuns, who persuaded her to take her first communion.

Paul Scarron, Françoise’s first husband. source: Wikipedia

On a trip to Paris, she met Paul Scarron, who would become her first husband. Scarron, a noted poet and novelist, was significantly older than Françoise and suffered from severe paralysis and deformity, probably a result of polio. The two began to correspond and soon Scarron offered to marry her or to pay her dowry to enter a convent. Françoise accepted his proposal and after marrying in 1652, she quickly found herself at the highest levels of Parisian society.

After her husband died in 1660, Françoise continued to receive the pension he had been granted from Queen Anne. The Queen increased the pension so that Françoise could maintain her position in society. However, after Queen Anne died in 1666, her son, King Louis XIV discontinued the pension. With no source of income, Françoise prepared to leave France to serve as a lady-in-waiting for the new Queen of Portugal, Maria Francisca of Savoy, who was married to King Afonso VI of Portugal, and later to his brother, King Pedro II of Portugal. However, before leaving, she met Madame de Montespan, the clandestine lover of King Louis XIV. The two became close friends, and Madame de Montespan persuaded the King to reinstate Françoise’s pension, thus allowing her to remain in Paris.

In March 1669, Madame Montespan had her first child with King Louis XIV. Because of the secrecy of their relationship, and the fact that he was very much married to Queen Marie-Thérèse, Montespan placed the baby in the care of Françoise and endowed her with a substantial income and a full staff of servants. It was Françoise’s care of the couple’s second child that got her noticed by King Louis XIV. In 1673, she was appointed as Royal Governess. In 1674, King Louis XIV provided her with the funds to purchase an estate, Château de Maintenon, and the following year he created her Marquise de Maintenon. Within a few years, Françoise and King Louis XIV had become very close, and she soon replaced Madame de Montespan in his affections. Even the Queen was pleased, having been treated quite rudely by Montespan, but receiving great respect and admiration from Françoise.

King Louis XIV, painted by Pierre Mignard. source: Wikipedia

Several months after Queen Marie-Thérèse died, Françoise and King Louis XIV were married in a private ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Paris. As the marriage was morganatic, she was never formally acknowledged as his wife or as Queen of France. Still known as Madame de Maintenon, Françoise held considerable political influence, and the King often consulted with her when making decisions. She also held great influence over the King in more personal matters. Despite his earlier penchant for numerous mistresses, he remained faithful to Françoise for the remainder of his life and supported many of her religious views. Devoutly religious, she was granted the right of visitation over all the convents in France in 1692 by Pope Innocent XII.

In 1684, she founded the Maison royale de Saint-Louis in Saint-Cyr, just west of Versailles, France. At her request, King Louis XIV endowed the school, and Françoise herself oversaw every detail of its establishment. The Maison Royale was designed to be a school for girls from poorer noble families, much as Françoise had been in her childhood.

Françoise, painted by Louis Elle (the elder). source: Wikipedia

Following King Louis’s death in 1715, Françoise retired to Saint-Cyr and was granted a large pension for the rest of her life. Such was her influence within the monarchy that she often received visitors from all around Europe. One of these visitors was Peter I, Emperor of All Russia, who made a notable visit shortly before her death. Françoise died at Saint-Cyr on April 15, 1719, and was buried in the school’s chapel.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Louis XIV of France; Credit – Wikipedia

King Louis XIV of France, often known as Louis the Great or the Sun King, was the longest-reigning French monarch, reigning from 1643 until he died in 1715. He was born on September 5, 1638, at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, the elder son of King Louis XIII of France and Anne of Austria.

Louis had one younger brother:

• Philippe I, Duke of Orléans (1640 – 1701) – married (1) Henrietta of England, had issue; (2) Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, had issue

Louis as Dauphin, painted by Claude Deruet in 1643. source: Wikipedia

At just four years old, he became King following his father’s death on May 14, 1643. His father had decreed that a Regency Council should be established, led by the Queen. However, Queen Anne had that overturned and served as the sole Regent for her young son. Despite coming of age in 1654, King Louis XIV didn’t fully assume his role as King until 1661, following the death of his chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin. An ardent believer in the divine right of kings, King Louis XIV quickly assumed full control of the monarchy. He was one of France’s most powerful sovereigns and established France as one of the leading powers of Europe.

When Louis assumed his role as King, France was nearly bankrupt, having endured several foreign wars and years of civil unrest. The King brought in a new finance minister who worked to reduce the country’s debt and increase its coffers, through more efficient taxation. Within several years, the country’s finances were restored. The King also boosted commerce and trade in France and invited many foreign businesses and artisans to France. He worked to improve and modernize the military and focused on the physical and mental well-being of the soldiers. His reign saw France become the primary power in Europe, and three major wars took place – the Franco-Dutch War, the War of the League of Augsburg, and the War of the Spanish Succession.

Queen Marie-Thérèse with their only surviving child, Louis, le Grand Dauphin, c1665. source: Wikipedia

Louis XIV married for the first time on June 9, 1660, at the Church of Saint-Jean the Baptist in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France. His bride, Maria Theresia of Austria, was the daughter of King Felipe IV of Spain and Elisabeth of France. The couple was double first cousins.

• Unofficial Royalty: First Cousins: Louis XIV, King of France

Louis and Marie-Thérèse had six children:

• Louis, Le Grand Dauphin (1661 – 1711) – married (1) Duchess Maria Anna of Bavaria, had issue; (2) Marie Émilie de Joly de Choin, had issue
• Anne-Élisabeth (born and died 1662) – died in infancy
• Marie-Anne (born and died 1664) – died in infancy
• Marie-Thérèse (1667 – 1672) – died in childhood
• Philippe Charles, Duke of Anjou (1668 – 1671) – died in childhood
• Louis François, Duke of Anjou (born and died 1672) – died in infancy

Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, Duchess de La Vallière et de Vaujours. source: Wikipedia

In addition, the King had several mistresses and illegitimate children. With Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, Duchess de La Vallière et de Vaujours, he had five children:

• Charles de La Baume Le Blanc (1663 – 1665) – died in childhood
• Philippe de La Baume Le Blanc (1665 – 1666) – died in childhood
• Louis de La Baume Le Blanc (1665 – 1666) – died in childhood
• Marie Anne de La Baume Le Blanc (1666 – 1739) – legitimized in 1667, married Louis Armand de Bourbon, Prince de Conti, no issue. Later Duchess de La Vallière in her own right
• Louis, Count of Vermandois (1667 – 1683) – legitimized in 1669, created Comte de Vermandois, died at age 16

Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquise de Montespan; Credit – Wikipedia

And with Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquise de Montespan, he had seven children:

• Louise Françoise de Bourbon (1669 – 1672) – died in childhood
• Louis Auguste de Bourbon (1670 – 1736) – legitimized in 1673, created Duc du Maine, married Louise Bénédicte de Bourbon, had issue
• Louis César de Bourbon (1672 – 1683) – legitimized in 1673, created comte de Vexin, died in childhood
• Louise Françoise de Bourbon (1673 – 1643) – legitimized in 1673, known as Mademoiselle de Nantes, married Louis de Bourbon, later duc de Bourbon and Prince de Condé, had issue
• Louise Marie Anne de Bourbon (1674 – 1681) – legitimized in 1676, known as Mademoiselle de Tours, died in childhood
• Françoise Marie de Bourbon (1677 – 1749) – legitimized in 1681, known as Mademoiselle de Blois, married Philippe d’Orléans, duc de Chartres, later duc d’Orléans, had issue
• Louis Alexandre de Bourbon (1678 – 1737) – legitimized in 1681, created comte de Toulouse, married Marie Victoire de Noailles, had issue

His children with Madame de Montespan were raised by Françoise d’Aubigné, Madame Scarron (later created Marquise de Maintenon). Soon, she replaced Madame Montespan in the King’s affection. After the death of Queen Marie-Thérèse in 1683, King Louis XIV married Madame de Maintenon in a private ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Paris. Because the marriage was morganatic, she was never publicly acknowledged as his wife or as Queen.

Louis XIV’s reign saw the monarchy assume authority over the aristocracy and the church, becoming a true absolute monarchy. While the Pope remained in control of ecclesiastical law, the King invalidated all papal regulations and made himself the authority within France under the Declaration of the Clergy of France in 1681.

King Louis XIV receiving Louis de Bourbon, Grand Condé at Versailles following his victory in the Battle of Seneffe. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, source: Wikipedia

The King took complete control of the aristocracy, providing residences at Versailles for those who paid court to him. Having them close allowed the king to determine who was loyal to him and who was not. His constant entertaining of the aristocracy helped to determine public opinion while keeping them under a very watchful eye. He also banned the private armies, often established by the nobility to plot against the monarchy.

In 1685, King Louis XIV issued the Edict of Fontainebleau. This formally revoked the Edict of Nantes of 1598, which had granted religious and political freedom to the Huguenots. Many believe this was at the urging of Madame de Maintenon, a very staunch Catholic. The Edict of Fontainebleau ordered the destruction of Huguenot churches and the closing of all Protestant schools. Many Huguenots converted to avoid persecution for which they were financially rewarded, while many others fled the country.

King Louis XIV was a huge supporter of the arts. He supported and protected numerous writers and artists, and commissioned over 300 formal portraits and over 20 statues of himself during his lifetime. A lover of dance, particularly ballet, he founded the Académie Royale de Danse in 1661, and the Académie d’Opéra in 1669. He also assumed the patronage of the Académie Française.

Hôtel des Invalides. source: Wikipedia

King Louis XIV built the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris and made many renovations to some of the royal palaces, including the Palais du Louvre, also in Paris. Perhaps his best-known building project was the Palace of Versailles. Having inherited the hunting lodge built there by his father, Louis oversaw several building campaigns resulting in the magnificent palace that still stands today. In 1682, he officially made Versailles the home of the Royal Court.

After reigning for 72 years and 100 days, King Louis XIV died on September 1, 1715, at the Palace of Versailles, and was buried at the Basilica of St. Denis in Paris. Louis XIV outlived most of his immediate legitimate family. His last surviving legitimate son Louis, Le Grand Dauphin died in 1711. Barely a year later, Louis, Duke of Burgundy, Le Petite Dauphin, the eldest of the Dauphin’s three sons and then heir to Louis XIV, followed his father in death. Burgundy’s elder surviving son Louis, Duke of Brittany joined them a few weeks later. Thus, on his deathbed, Louis XIV’s heir was his five-year-old great-grandson, Louis, Duke of Anjou, Burgundy’s younger son, who succeeded his great-grandfather as King Louis XV.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

• Kingdom of France/French Empire Index
• French Burial Sites – House of Bourbon, House of Bonaparte, House of Orléans

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Louis XIII of France; Credit – Wikipedia

King Louis XIII of France was born September 27, 1601, at the Château de Fontainebleau in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne, France. He was the eldest son of King Henri IV of France and Marie de’ Medici, and had five younger siblings:

• Elisabeth (1602 – 1644) – married King Felipe IV of Spain, had issue
• Christine Marie (1606 – 1663) – married Vittorio Amedeo I, Duke of Savoy, had issue
• Nicolas Henri, Duke of Orléans (1607 – 1611) – died in childhood
• Gaston, Duke of Orléans (1608 – 1660) – married (1) Marie de Bourbon, Duchess de Montpensier, had issue; (2) Marguerite of Lorraine, had issue
• Henrietta Maria (1609 – 1669) – married King Charles I of England, had issue

At just two months old, Louis was brought to the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where he was raised with his father’s illegitimate children, and later his own siblings. He was nearly five years old when his christening occurred at Fontainebleau in September 1606. His godparents were Pope Paul V, and his maternal aunt, Eleonora de’ Medici, Duchess of Mantua.

From a young age, Louis showed a great interest in music and learned to play the lute at just three years old. This love of music continued for his entire life, and in 1635 he wrote The Ballet de la Merlaison which was first performed that year at the Château de Chantilly. Louis is credited with writing the story, composing the music and lyrics, and choreographing the dancing. He also danced in several performances of the show.

King Louis XIII, c1613. source: Wikipedia

Louis also developed an early love of horses and the military. Once his education began, he did not show much interest in languages, math, or science, but excelled in history and the arts. Growing up, he was much closer to his father King Henri IV than his mother, even though his father would often mistreat him. Sadly, Louis was only eight years old when his father King Henri IV was assassinated on May 14, 1610, and he became King Louis XIII of France. Due to his youth, his mother Marie de’ Medici was appointed Regent, to serve until he came of age. Despite reaching his majority in 1614, his mother continued to exert her influence as Regent, deeming her son “too weak in body and spirit” to assume his rightful position.

It would be several years before Louis asserted his authority. In April 1617, he organized a coup d’état, ousting his mother’s primary minister Concino Concini, and sending his mother into exile. He replaced Concini with his favorite advisor, Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes. One of the first challenges in his reign was the Thirty Years’ War which began in 1618, in which there was much disagreement on which side the French should support. There was also growing disagreement with Luynes and his actions. These all led to a rebellion against the King, led by his mother who had escaped from exile. Through the influence of the Armand Jean du Plessis, 1st Duke of Richelieu, better known as Cardinal Richelieu, Louis and his mother were reconciled, and within a few years, Louis permitted her to return to the French court. By 1624, Louis was now ruled by council and Cardinal Richelieu took a more prominent role in the King’s reign.

“The Marriage of Louis XIII, King of France and of Navarre, and Anna of Austria” by Jean Chalette. source: Wikipedia

In 1612, at just eleven years old, Louis became betrothed to Anna of Austria, keeping with the tradition of inter-marriages between the French and Spanish monarchies. She was the daughter of King Felipe III of Spain and Margaret of Austria. The couple was married by proxy on October 18, 1615, in Burgos, Spain. The same day, Louis’s sister Elisabeth married Anna’s brother, the future King Felipe IV of Spain. Following Anna’s arrival in France, the couple was married in a religious ceremony at the Bordeaux Cathedral in France on November 24, 1615.  After four stillborn children, and 23 years after their marriage, the couple had two sons:

• King Louis XIV of France (1638 – 1715) – married (1) Maria Theresa of Spain, had issue  (2) Françoise d’Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon, no issue
• Philippe I, Duke of Orléans (1640 – 1701) – married (1) Henrietta of England, had issue; (2) Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, had issue

The hunting lodge at Versailles, c1630-1640. source: Wikipedia

Although best associated with later generations of French monarchs, the Palace of Versailles has its origins with Louis XIII. Having gone on several hunting trips in the area, King Louis XIII ordered the construction of a hunting lodge in 1624. Several years later, he acquired the surrounding land and began to enlarge the building. Under his son’s reign, the small hunting lodge was transformed into a grand palace and became the seat of the French monarchy.

King Louis XIII and Queen Anne with their eldest son, the future King Louis XIV. Cardinal Richelieu is pictured behind the King. source: Wikipedia

After several weeks of intense illness, King Louis XIII died in Paris on May 14, 1643. Ironically, it was 33 years earlier on the same day that his own father had died.  Just like his father, Louis left behind a very young son – not yet five years old – to succeed him on the French throne. He was interred at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France with very little pomp or ceremony, per his wishes that the French people not be subjected to any excessive or unnecessary expense due to his death. Knowing his death was near, the King had revised his will, limiting the powers of his wife who would go on to serve as Regent for their young son.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

• Kingdom of France/French Empire Index
• French Burial Sites – House of Bourbon, House of Bonaparte, House of Orléans

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Marguerite of Valois, Queen of France; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Marguerite of France, also known as Marguerite of Valois, was the first wife of King Henri IV of France. She was born on May 14, 1553, at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the daughter of King Henri II of France and Catherine de’ Medici. In addition to becoming Queen of France, she was also Queen of Navarre from the time of her marriage. She was named after her paternal aunt, Marguerite of France (later Duchess of Savoy), who along with Alphonse II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, served as her godparents.

Marguerite had nine siblings, three of whom became Kings of France:

• François II, King of France (1544 – 1560), married Mary, Queen of Scots, no children
• Elisabeth of Valois, Queen of Spain (1545 – 1568), married King Philip II of Spain, had two daughters
• Claude of Valois, Duchess of Lorraine (1547 – 1575), married Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, had nine children
• Louis, Duke of Orléans (1549 – 1550), died in infancy
• Charles IX, King of France (1550 – 1574), married Elisabeth of Austria, had one daughter who died young
• Henri III, King of France (1551 – 1589), married Louise of Lorraine, no children
• Hercule François, Duke of Anjou (1555 – 1584), unmarried
• Victoria of Valois (born and died 1556), twin of Joan, died in infancy
• Joan of Valois, twin of Victoria, died in utero

Marguerite and Henri. source: Wikipedia

After several failed attempts to marry Marguerite off to the son of King Felipe II of Spain and  King Sebastião I of Portugal in the late 1560s, she became involved with Henri I, Duke of Guise. However, the relationship ended in 1570 when it was discovered by her mother, who had Henri banished from court. Two years later, on August 18, 1572, Marguerite married King Henri III of Navarre (later King Henri IV of France) at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Her husband was the son of Queen Jeanne III of Navarre and Prince Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme. The marriage, arranged by Marguerite’s brother, King Charles IX, was hoped to help bring together the Bourbon and Valois dynasties and ease the tensions between the Catholics and Huguenots. Ironically, as her husband was a Huguenot, he was not permitted in the cathedral and had to stay outside for the ceremony. The couple had no children.

Just days after the wedding, the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre took place. Marguerite is alleged to have hidden several prominent Huguenots, as well as her new husband, to keep them safe from certain death. Eventually, Henri was able to return to Navarre, although it would be some time before Marguerite was permitted to join him. The two led relatively separate lives, both having a string of affairs and rarely getting along with each other.

In 1582, Marguerite returned to France to recuperate after an illness. Before long, her brother, King Henri III, forced her to leave, scandalized by her behavior. She returned to Navarre, organizing a coup d’état to take control of the city of Agen. However, that was short-lived and soon she was forced to flee. In 1586, she was imprisoned by her brother, King Henri III of France, and later by her husband in the castle of Usson. It would be 19 years before she returned to court.

Despite this, Marguerite became Queen Consort of France on August 2, 1589. When her brother, King Henri III, died without an heir, the throne passed to Marguerite’s husband, the senior agnatic heir of King Louis IX of France. When he took the throne as King Henri IV, there would be much dissent amongst the French people as he was not Catholic. After several years of various factions trying to keep him from the throne, Henri converted to Catholicism in 1593.

By then, Henri knew he needed a male heir, and his marriage to Marguerite had produced no children. He began negotiations with Marguerite to have their marriage annulled. After several years, the marriage was formally dissolved in 1599. Marguerite retained her title as Queen of France. Henri would later marry Marie de’ Medici and have several children. It would not be long before Marguerite was back in favor with her former husband, although she remained in Usson.

Queen Marguerite, as portrayed in Rubens’ “Coronation of the Queen at the Abbey of Saint-Denis” – a painting that depicts the coronation of Marguerite’s successor, Marie de’ Medici. source: Wikipedia (click HERE for the full painting)

In 1605, largely due to the efforts of Henri’s second wife, Marie de’ Medici, Marguerite was welcomed back to Paris and the French court. She settled initially at the Hôtel de Sens while having a new home – the Hôtel Reine Marguerite – built along the Seine, directly opposite the Louvre Palace. She remained a favorite at court and maintained a remarkably close relationship with her former husband and his new wife. In 1608, they even asked her to serve as godmother to their youngest son Gaston.

Memorial to Queen Marguerite at St. Denis. source: Wikipedia

Queen Marguerite of France died on March 27, 1615, and was buried in the Valois Chapel at the Basilica of St. Denis near Paris. Today, the location of her remains is unknown. They were likely destroyed during the French Revolution or could have been moved elsewhere when work was being done on the chapel.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

• Kingdom of France/French Empire Index
• French Burial Sites – House of Bourbon, House of Bonaparte, House of Orléans

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Henri IV of France – source: Wikipedia

King Henri IV of France was the first French king of the House of Bourbon. He was born on December 13, 1553, in Pau, Kingdom of Navarre, now in France, the second of the five children and the second of the three sons of Queen Jeanne III of Navarre and Antoine de Bourbon, Duke de Vendôme. Although he was baptized in the Catholic Church, he was raised as a Protestant.

Henri had four siblings:

• Henri de Bourbon, Duke of Beaumont (1551 – 1553)
• Louis Charles de Bourbon, Count of Marle (1555 – 1557)
• Madeleine de Bourbon (born and died 1556)
• Catherine de Bourbon (1559 – 1604), married Henry, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine, no children

Henri and Marguerite of Valois. source: Wikipedia

Upon his mother’s death on June 9, 1572, Henri took the throne as King Henri III of Navarre. Just months later, on August 18, 1572, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Henri married Marguerite of Valois, the daughter of King Henri II of France and Catherine de’ Medici. As Henri was a Protestant Huguenot, he was not permitted inside the Cathedral so the ceremony was held just outside of the building. Days later, the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre took place, in which thousands of Protestant Huguenots were killed. Henri narrowly escaped death, mostly thanks to his new Catholic wife, and his promise to convert to Catholicism. Despite this, he was forced to remain at the French court for several years before escaping in 1576 and returning to Navarre. Upon his return, he renounced his conversion and once again joined with the Protestants.

In 1584, Henri became the heir-presumptive to the French throne, as the last heir to King Henri III of France had died. Henri was the most senior agnatic descendant of King Louis IX of France, and therefore the rightful heir. This led to what was known as the War of the Three Henries – Henri of Navarre, Henri III, King of France, and Henri I, Duke of Guise. The Duke of Guise was a staunch opponent of the Huguenots and fought against the possibility of Henri succeeding to the French throne. Henri III of France had the Duke of Guise killed in 1588, hoping to restore his authority with the French people. Instead, it caused a great uproar and much of the country refused to recognize him as King. His greatest ally was Henri of Navarre. The two were joined in their desire to defeat the Catholic League which had taken control of much of the country. Joining forces, they attempted to take Paris, but the French king was assassinated on August 2, 1589.

Henri of Navarre, as the heir-presumptive, became King Henri IV of France. However, the Catholic League was still the primary force in the country and refused to recognize him as the new monarch. The Catholic nobles who had previously supported King Henri III of France in his alliance with Henri of Navarre still refused to recognize him as their new sovereign. He began to take the country by force, with support from Germany and England. The Catholic League proclaimed Henri’s uncle Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon as the king but he was being held prisoner by Henri at the time. A battle ensued to name a new successor, with Spain pushing for the removal of Salic Law, thus allowing a Spanish Infanta to become Queen. However, this was struck down by the Parlament of Paris. After several more years, encouraged by his mistress, Gabrielle d’Estrées, Henri once again renounced his religion and converted to Catholicism. This gained him the support of the French people and he was finally able to rule his kingdom. As the Catholic League still occupied the city of Reims – the traditional site of French coronations – Henri was crowned King of France at the Cathedral of Chartres on February 27, 1594.

Statue of King Henri IV on the Pont Neuf. By Mbzt – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11941438

During his reign, Henri IV stabilized the country’s finances and worked to promote education and agriculture. He restored Paris as a great city, building the Pont Neuf over the Seine river to join the Right and Left Banks. He built the Place Royale (now the Place des Vosges) and added the Grand Gallery to the Louvre Palace. A huge supporter of the arts, Henri permitted hundreds of artists and craftsmen to live on the lower floors of the new building. He also financed numerous expeditions to North America, whi would eventually see France laying claim to Canada.

But perhaps his best-known accomplishment was issuing the Edict of Nantes in 1598. This guaranteed a level of religious freedom previously unseen in France, restoring civil rights to Protestants, and ending the Wars of Religion.

In a loveless marriage, and knowing that he needed an heir, Henri had begun negotiations to end his first marriage to Marguerite of Valois. He hoped to have the marriage annulled so he could marry his mistress, Gabrielle d’Estrées, with whom he already had several children. This was seen as scandalous and ill-advised by most of his ministers who argued against the idea. After Gabrielle died in childbirth in April 1599, Henri continued with his plans, and his marriage to Marguerite was annulled later the same year.

Henri with his second wife, Marie de’ Medici, and family. source: Wikipedia

The next year, on December 17, 1600, King Henri IV married Marie de’ Medici, in a lavish ceremony in Lyon. The couple had six children:

• King Louis XIII of France (1601 – 1643) – married Anne of Austria, had issue
• Elisabeth (1602 – 1644) – married King Felipe IV of Spain, had issue
• Christine Marie (1606 – 1663) – married Vittorio Amedeo I, Duke of Savoy, had issue
• Nicolas Henri, Duke of Orléans (1607 – 1611) – died in childhood
• Gaston, Duke of Orléans (1608 – 1660) – married (1) Marie de Bourbon, Duchess de Montpensier, had issue; (2) Marguerite of Lorraine, had issue
• Henrietta Maria (1609 – 1669) – married King Charles I of England, had issue

The murder of King Henri IV, painted by Charles-Gustave Housez. source: Wikipedia

King Henri IV was killed in Paris on May 14, 1610, the day after his wife’s coronation. While traveling through Paris, Henri’s carriage was stopped on the Rue de Ferronnerie. A Catholic zealot, François Ravaillac, took the opportunity to rush up to the carriage and stab the King twice in the chest. Quickly subdued, Ravaillac was taken into custody and later executed. The King was taken to the Louvre Palace where he died. Following a grand funeral on July 1, 1610, King Henri IV was interred in the Basilica of St Denis near Paris. In keeping with a promise made some years earlier, his heart was entombed at the Church of Saint Louis of La Flèche.

• Unofficial Royalty: Assassination of Henri IV, King of France

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France Resources at Unofficial Royalty

• Kingdom of France/French Empire Index
• French Burial Sites – House of Bourbon, House of Bonaparte, House of Orléans