00:00 Henry IV, the good king
02:27 The expansion of reform
08:22 The early years (15471572)
23:18 Dark days 1572
30:11 Captive at court
32:38 An enchanted break
37:44 The last days

Henri, King of Navarre is the son of Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne d'Albret. He is a blood prince as a descendant of SaintLouis. Baptized as a Catholic, he received a Calvinist education from his mother, and converted to the Reformation. In 1572, in order to reconcile Catholics and Protestants, he married Marguerite de Valois. It was a failure, and the wedding festivities led to the massacre of Protestants (SaintBarthélemy). In 1584, he became heir to the French throne upon the death of the Duke of Alençon. He was the leader of the Protestant party during the Eighth War of Religion and approached Henry III in order to thwart the Catholic League of the Duke of Guise. After the assassination of Henry III, he was the first king of France of the Bourbon dynasty. He converted to Catholicism ("Paris is worth a mass") and was crowned in Chartres before entering Paris. Having become king, he signed the Edict of Nantes (1598), recognizing the Protestant religion and reestablishing the economy of the kingdom with the help of his minister Sully. While he was preparing a war against Spain, he was assassinated on May 14, 1610 by Ravaillac.

Director: Dominique Mougenot, Thierry Bruant and Catherine Mignot

The kings of France, 15 centuries of history Documentary series History