Henry III, King of France and Poland
On 19 September 1551, Henry was born at the royal castle of Fontainebleau in
France.
Family
He was the fourth son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de'Medici.
His paternal grandparents were King Francis I of France and Claude of France.
His maternal grandparents were Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino and
Madeleine de la Tour d'Auverge.
His older brothers were Francis II of France; Charles IX of France and
Louis of Valois.
Henry was a member of the royal house of Valois-Angoulême. He was raised
under the supervision of Diane de Poitiers.
Childhood & Youth
Henry was considered one of the best of the sons of Catherine de'Medici and
Henry II. Unlike his father and his elder brothers, he had little interest in the
traditional Valois pastimes such as hunting and physical exercise. He
preferred the arts and reading.
Henry II. Unlike his father and his elder brothers, he had little interest in the
traditional Valois pastimes such as hunting and physical exercise. He
preferred the arts and reading.
There were reports that Henry engaged in same-sex relations with his court
favourites known as the mignons.
favourites known as the mignons.
Love & Marriage
There were discussions from 1570 and later that Henry should court
Queen Elizabeth I of England. Elizabeth was then almost 37 years old
and many parties in her country expected that she should marry to
produce an heir. However nothing came of these discussions. Henry
was a Catholic and Elizabeth a Protestant ...
Queen Elizabeth I of England. Elizabeth was then almost 37 years old
and many parties in her country expected that she should marry to
produce an heir. However nothing came of these discussions. Henry
was a Catholic and Elizabeth a Protestant ...
And the two had a difference in age of 18 years (he was 18 years
younger than her). He called her an "old creature with a sore leg".
younger than her). He called her an "old creature with a sore leg".
In the autumn of 1573, Henry would meet Louis of Lorraine. They
married on 15 February 1575. They had not any children together.
French Wars of the Religion
Henry served as leader of the royal army in the French Wars of Religion.
He took part in the victories over the Huguenots at the Battle of Jarnac
in March 1569 and the Battle of Moncontour in October 1569. He also
helped to plot the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572, though he
did not participate directly.
He took part in the victories over the Huguenots at the Battle of Jarnac
in March 1569 and the Battle of Moncontour in October 1569. He also
helped to plot the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572, though he
did not participate directly.
In 1572/1573 he led the siege of La Rochelle but this was ended on
6 June 1573.
6 June 1573.
King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania
After the death of the Polish ruler King Sigismund II Augustus on 7
July 1572, Jean de Monluc was sent as the French envoy to Poland to
negotiate the election of Henry to the Polish throne in exchange for
military support against Russia and diplomatic assistance in dealing
with the Ottoman Empire.
July 1572, Jean de Monluc was sent as the French envoy to Poland to
negotiate the election of Henry to the Polish throne in exchange for
military support against Russia and diplomatic assistance in dealing
with the Ottoman Empire.
On 16 May 1573, Polish nobles chose Henry as the first elected
monarch of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. A Polish delegation
went to meet Henry.
monarch of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. A Polish delegation
went to meet Henry.
It was not until January 1574 that Henry was to reach the borders of
Poland. On 21 February, Henry's coronation was held in Kraków.
Poland. On 21 February, Henry's coronation was held in Kraków.
Henry's reign in Poland was marked by a clash of cultures between the
Polish and the French. The young King and his followers were astonished
by several Polish practices and disappointed by the rural poverty and the
harsh climate of the country.
by several Polish practices and disappointed by the rural poverty and the
harsh climate of the country.
On returning to France, Henry took some of the Polish customs with him.
Inter alia a bath with regulated hot and cold water as well as dining forks.
In 1578, Henry created the Order of the Holy Spirit to commemorate his
becoming first King of Poland and later King of France on the Feast of
Pentecost. The Order would retain its prestige until the end of the French
monarchy.
becoming first King of Poland and later King of France on the Feast of
Pentecost. The Order would retain its prestige until the end of the French
monarchy.
King of France
On 13 February 1575, Henry was crowned King of France at the Reims
Cathedral.
Cathedral.
In 1576 he signed the Edict of Beaulieu, which granted many concessions
to the Huguenots. His action resulted in the formation of the
Catholic League by Henry I, Duke of Guise.
to the Huguenots. His action resulted in the formation of the
Catholic League by Henry I, Duke of Guise.
On 12 May 1588, the Duke of Guise entered Paris. Henry III fled the city.
On 23 December 1588, the Duke of Guise was summoned to visit the King
at the Castle of Château de Blois. There royal guardsmen murdered the Duke.
The Duke was very popular in France and the citizens turned against Henry.
at the Castle of Château de Blois. There royal guardsmen murdered the Duke.
The Duke was very popular in France and the citizens turned against Henry.
Assassination
On 1 August 1589, Henry III lodged with his army in Saint-Cloud and he
was preparing to attack Paris.
was preparing to attack Paris.
Jacques Clément, a Dominican friar murdered the King with a knife.
Clément was killed on the spot by the guards.
Clément was killed on the spot by the guards.
Henry launched the attack on Paris on 2 August but he died from his
wounds.
wounds.
Chaos swept the attacking army and the proposed attack on Paris was
postponed. Inside the city there was a great joy.
postponed. Inside the city there was a great joy.
Henry III of France was interred at the Saint Denis Basillica. He was
the last of the Valois Kings.
the last of the Valois Kings.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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