Henry IV, King of France, First of Bourbon Line, Letter Signed, May 8, 1596, COA

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Henry IV, King of France, First of Bourbon Line, Letter Signed, May 8, 1596, COA:
$1499.99

King Henry IV (1533-1610). Also known by the epithet \"Good King Henry\", he 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. Baptised as a Catholic but raised in the Protestant faith by his mother Jeanne d\'Albert, Queen of Navarre, he inherited the throne of Navarre in 1572 on the death of his mother. As a Huguenot, Henry was involved in the French Wars of Religion, barely escaping assassination in the St. Bartholomew\'s Day massacre, and later led Protestant forces against the royal army. As a French \"prince of the blood\" by reason of his descent from King Louis IX, he ascended the throne of France upon the death of his childless brother-in-law Henry III in 1589. In accepting the throne, he found it prudent to abjure his Calvinist faith. Regardless, his coronation was followed by a four-year war against the Catholic League to establish his legitimacy. As a pragmatic politician (in the parlance of the time, a politique), he displayed an unusual religious tolerance for the time. Notably, he promulgated the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which guaranteed religious liberties to Protestants, thereby effectively ending the Wars of Religion. He was assassinated by Francois Ravaillac, a fanatical Catholic, and was succeeded by his son Louis XIII. Considered as a usurper by Catholics and as a traitor by Protestants, Henry was hardly accepted by the population and escaped at least 12 assassination attempts. An unpopular king during his reign, Henry\'s popularity greatly improved posthumously. The \"Good King Henry\" (le bon roi Henri) was remembered for his geniality and his great concern about the welfare of his subjects. He was celebrated in the popular song \"Vive le roi Henri\" and in Voltaire\'s \"Henriade\". His signature on a 1 page letter signed, dated May 8, 1596. A full translation of the letter is included, along with an interpretation of the contents. The letter has to do with increasing the defenses of the city of Ardres (southwest of Dunkirk) by the hiring of forty \"Pionniers\". Pionniers were soldiers who dug trenches. He was waging war against the Spanish, who controlled what is now Belgium, and he feared that they would march on Paris. His order came too late, and Ardres fell to the Spanish on May 23, 1596. A rare and desirable autograph--King Henry is considered by some historians to be France\'s greatest King. A great Royal letter with excellent military content. Approximately 12\" x 8 1/2\" in size. The letter has been professionally dedeacidified and encapsulated (not laminated--the documentcould easily be removed)in mylar for preservation. Pages of History provides a lifetime guarantee of authenticity. We are full time autograph and document dealers registered with the UACC (#036), and members of the Manuscript Society. Payments must be by Pay Pal. We will combine shipping on multiple purchases. Shipping charges include full insurance for deliveries within the United States.