Henry III of France
A French king whose turbulent reign was defined by religious civil wars, personal eccentricity, and a shocking assassination.
1551–1589 (age 38)·King of France from 1574 to 1589·Birthday: September 19
Biography
Henry III ascended to the French throne in 1574, inheriting a kingdom fractured by the Wars of Religion between Catholics and Protestants. His reign was a constant, desperate struggle to maintain royal authority against the powerful Catholic League and the Protestant Huguenots. Known for his intelligence and cultural patronage, he was also criticized for his effeminate court of favorites, the 'mignons,' and his volatile political maneuvers. His decision to order the assassination of his primary Catholic rivals, the Duke and Cardinal of Guise, in 1588, turned Paris and much of France against him. The following year, a fanatical Dominican friar stabbed Henry to death, making him the second French king murdered in less than two decades and ending the Valois dynasty.
#1 When Henry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1551
Henry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1551Born
1556Started school
1564Became a teenager
1567Could drive
1569Could vote
1572Turned 21
1581Turned 30
1589Died at 38
Key Achievements
- Founded the Order of the Holy Spirit, France's premier order of chivalry, in 1578.
- Issued the Edict of Beaulieu in 1576, granting substantial rights and freedoms to Huguenots.
- Served as the elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania for two years before fleeing to claim the French throne.
- Presided over the Estates-General at Blois in 1588, which culminated in the dramatic murders of the Duke and Cardinal of Guise.
Did You Know?
He was the first known King of France to wear earrings.
He was a dedicated patron of literature and helped establish the French Academy, later known as the Académie française.
His assassination left no Valois heir, leading to the succession of the Protestant Henry of Navarre, who converted to Catholicism to become Henry IV.
“Paris is worth a mass.”
