Station: [6] Henry IV and the Edict of Nantes

Henry the Fourth of France, dubbed "Good King Henry", is described as having been generous and a friend to the common people – and looking at his death mask, it's easy to imagine that he was philanthropically inclined.
Henry was crowned King of France in 1589 and held the throne for four years as a Protestant monarch – the only one in the country's history. However, France was riven by domestic conflicts during that time. Only after Henry the Fourth converted to Roman Catholicism in 1593 was he able to assert himself as king.
In all, he ruled France for 21 years. The country was shattered after multiple Wars of Religion, and he managed to rebuild and make some progress towards unity during that time. Henry the Fourth's greatest achievement was the Edict of Nantes, which he imposed in 1598 against considerable resistance. 
This edict safeguarded the right of French Protestants to practise their religion, subject to certain restrictions. With it, Henry IV drew a line under the War of Religion between Roman Catholics and Huguenots after more than 30 years. For the time being, France was enjoying a time of religious peace.  
The Reformed Christians were now granted access to all public offices, schools and universities. The edict also gave the Huguenots political and military power. They were granted more than 100 safe havens with their own military forces and governors. So those havens represented a kind of state within a state inside France.
Unfortunately, Henry the Fourth became a victim of his own liberal politics. He was stabbed to death by a fanatical monk in Paris in 1610. 

Foto: © DHG