Good Fortune Deserts France’s Good King Henry IV

French King Henry IV’s dexterity with evading death would make a cat’s fabled nine lives a mockery. He survived fifty-six years of political intrigues, religious feuds, warfare and assassination attempts before his good fortune evaporated. He was labeled Good King Henry and Henry the Great for his governmental and leadership competency. He was popularly coined The Green Gallant for his sexual proficiency and readily available harem of mistresses. Henry was baptized as a Catholic, but raised in the Protestant faith by his mother. His Huguenot affiliation nearly targeted him for murder during the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. He would subsequently lead Protestant forces against the French royal army. He was not a religious fanatic sagely converting to Catholicism four years later to unite his divided kingdom. This shrewd gesture was a typical example of Henry’s pragmatism and inclination towards compromise. He flippantly summarized the decision by reportedly observing Paris is well worth a mass. He was a proactive ruler, deeply involved with monitoring state finances, rural agriculture, education and eliminating corruption. Such an impressive resume resulted in Henry cultivating as many admirers as enemies. He was the target of a least a dozen assassination attempts. His luck vanished amidst a Paris traffic jam on May 14, 1610. His royal coach crept to a standstill in the center of Paris. A Catholic zealot named Francois Ravaillac approached his coach and entered. He stabbed Henry and his companion the Duc of Montbazon. Henry died from his wounds. One hour following the death of his father, Henry IV’s son would be unofficially enthroned. He was notified at a location across the street from what would later become artist Pablo Picasso’s studio. Upon his coronation, he would become King Louis XIII. Henri’s widow, Marie de Medici would assume the role of regent for her son over the next seven years.