SECOND QUARTER 19TH CENTURY, AFTER BARTHELEMY TREMBLAY

Henry IV (1553 1610) was the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France. As a Huguenot, he was involved in the Wars of Religion, the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestant Hugenots before ascending to the throne. Upon becoming King he converted to Catholicism and in 1598 promulgated The Edict of Nantes, which guaranteed religious liberties to the Protestants and thereby effectively ending the civil war. He was one of the most popular French kings, both during and after his reign, and showed great care for the welfare of his subjects by displaying an unusual religious tolerance for the time. He was eventually murdered by a fanatical Catholic called François Ravaillac.