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France, Henri IV, 1589 - 1610
Henry IV was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 to 1610 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first French monarch of the House of Bourbon. Baptized a Catholic but raised Protestant by his mother, he barely escaped assassination at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, and he later led Protestant forces against the royal army. He ascended the throne of France upon the death of his childless cousin Henry III. He accepted Roman Catholicism to secure the allegiance of the vast majority of his subjects. He is said to have declared, "Paris vaut bien une messe" (Paris is well worth a mass). In 1598, he issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted some toleration to the Huguenots. The Catholics never accepted him and the Protestants considered him a traitor. He had to fight a four year war against the Catholic League to hold his throne. After escaping at least 12 assassination attempts, he was murdered by a fanatical Catholic. Although unpopular during his reign, he came to be remembered fondly as "le bon roi Henry" (Good King Henry) for his geniality and great concern for the welfare of his subjects.WO68102. Billon douzain, douzain de Béarn, 1st type, Duplessy 1262, Ciani 1568, Lafaurie 1101, aF, Morlaàs mint, weight 1.892g, maximum diameter 23.1mm, die axis 315o, 1589 - 1594; obverse HENRICVS. 4. D. G. FRAC. ET. NAV. REX DB (DB ligate), cross fourchée, lis in 1st and 4th quadrants, crown in 2nd and third quadrants; reverse *GRATIA. DEI. SVM. Q. D. SVM. 15[90?]*, crowned shield, arms of France on left half and Navarre-Bearn on right half, flanked on each side with an H; SOLD
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