亨利四世(1553～1610年)

Henry IV

别名Henry of Navarre

法语作Henri de Navarre

法国波旁王朝的第一个国王（1589～1610）和那瓦尔国王（称亨利三世，1572～1589），在法国史上是最受欢迎的人物之一。从小受新教的洗礼，并在宗教战争中从胡格诺派领袖科利尼那里接受了军事教育。1572年与瓦卢瓦的玛格丽特结婚，此桩婚姻在六天後即引发圣巴多罗买惨案。1572～1576年被禁锢在宫中，後来逃脱出来加入反对亨利三世的势力。他在三亨利之战中奋战，并取得优势成为无可匹敌的领袖。1589年亨利三世逝世，亨利四世登上王位，当时被迫与神圣联盟作战，花了九年时间才平定自己的王国。1593年改信天主教以杜绝想反抗他统治所找的藉口。1594年在一片欢呼声中进入巴黎，但他又得马不停蹄地和西班牙作战（1595～1598），因为西班牙人暗中支持法国残余的势力来反抗他。1598年亨利签定「南特敕令」，终於结束了长达四十年的内战。由於大臣的辅佐（包括苏利公爵），亨利带给法国秩序和新的繁荣景象。其早期的婚姻被宣布无效，1600年他同玛丽.德.麦迪奇结婚。1610年被一个天主教狂热分子刺杀。

English version：

1553～1610年

Henry IV

First Bourbon king of France (1589-1610) and king of Navarre (as Henry III, 1572-89), one of the most popular figures in French history. Henry was brought up as a Protestant and received his military training from the Huguenot leader Gaspard II de Coligny in the Wars of Religion. He married Margaret of Valois in 1572; the marriage provided the opportunity for the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre six days later. Henry was held at the French court from 1572 to 1576, when he escaped to join the forces against Henry III. He fought the War of the Three Henrys and prevailed as unrivaled leader. He became king after Henry III was assassinated in 1589, but was forced to fight the Holy League for nine years to secure his kingdom. In 1593 he converted to Roman Catholicism to remove all pretext for resistance to his rule. He entered Paris amid cheers in 1594, but he had to wage war (1595-98) against Spain, which supported the remaining resistance to him in France. Henry signed the Edict of Nantes in 1598, ending 40 years of civil war. With the aid of his ministers, including the duc de Sully, Henry brought order and new prosperity to France. His earlier marriage was annulled and in 1600 he married Marie de Médicis. In 1610 he was assassinated by a fanatical Roman Catholic.