War of the Three Henrys (1584-1598)
Encyclopedia
The War of the Three Henrys (1587-1589) was the eighth and final conflict in the series of civil wars in France
known as the Wars of Religion
. The war was fought between the Royalist party, led by Henry III of France
, the Huguenots, led by the heir-apparent, Henry of Navarre, and the Catholic League
, led by Henry I, Duke of Guise
and funded and supported by Philip II of Spain
.
The war was instigated by King Philip to keep Spain's enemy, France, from interfering with the Spanish army in the Netherlands, and the planned invasion of England.
The war began when the Catholic League convinced King Henry III to issue an edict outlawing Protestantism and annulling Henry of Navarre's right to the throne; Henry III was possibly influenced by the royal favorite
, Anne, Duke of Joyeuse.
For the first part of the war, the Royalist party and the Catholic League were uneasy allies against their common enemy, the Huguenots, but after Joyeuse was killed at the Battle of Coutras
relations between the two failed: the Catholic League seized the city of Paris in an uprising planned in part by the Spanish diplomat Bernardino de Mendoza
, forcing the king to flee to Blois.
After the defeat of the Spanish Armada
, King Henry called the Estates-General in the midst of intrigue and plotting. Henri of Guise planned to assassinate King Henry and seize the throne, but the king struck first, and had Guise killed by his fanatically loyal guards, The Forty-Five
.
Open war erupted between the Royalists and the Catholic League, and Henry III allied with his heir, Henry of Navarre. At first, the Royalist-Huguenots enjoyed astounding success and almost reached the gates of Paris, but Jacques Clément
, a fanatical Catholic monk assassinated King Henry III at Saint-Cloud.
Many Catholic Royalists were unwilling to serve the Protestant Henry IV, and the army retreated from Paris.
In the Spring, Henry IV returned to the field; he won significant victories at Ivry
and Arques
and laid siege to Paris (despite being greatly outnumbered), but a Spanish army under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
lifted the siege.
Deciding that further fighting was not worth the cost, Henry converted to Catholicism, saying: "Paris vaut bien une messe" ("Paris is worth a Mass"). The people of Paris were war-weary and disillusioned with the fanatical leaders of the League, and welcomed him amidst jubilation.
The war lasted several more years, as League diehards and Spanish troops continued to resist the reunification of France. But once those were dealt with, Henry IV's reign inaugurated a time of commerce and peace, commonly regarded as a golden age, and he remains one of France's most beloved kings.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
known as the Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
. The war was fought between the Royalist party, led by Henry III of France
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
, the Huguenots, led by the heir-apparent, Henry of Navarre, and the Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
, led by Henry I, Duke of Guise
Henry I, Duke of Guise
Henry I, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Count of Eu , sometimes called Le Balafré, "the scarred", was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este...
and funded and supported by Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
The war was instigated by King Philip to keep Spain's enemy, France, from interfering with the Spanish army in the Netherlands, and the planned invasion of England.
The war began when the Catholic League convinced King Henry III to issue an edict outlawing Protestantism and annulling Henry of Navarre's right to the throne; Henry III was possibly influenced by the royal favorite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
, Anne, Duke of Joyeuse.
For the first part of the war, the Royalist party and the Catholic League were uneasy allies against their common enemy, the Huguenots, but after Joyeuse was killed at the Battle of Coutras
Battle of Coutras
The Battle of Coutras, fought on 20 October 1587, was a major engagement in the eighth and final war of the French Religious Wars between an army under Henry of Navarre and a royal army led by Anne, Duke of Joyeuse...
relations between the two failed: the Catholic League seized the city of Paris in an uprising planned in part by the Spanish diplomat Bernardino de Mendoza
Bernardino de Mendoza
Bernardino de Mendoza was a Spanish military commander, a diplomat and a writer on military history and politics.- Life and works :Bernardino de Mendoza was born in Guadalajara, Spain around 1540...
, forcing the king to flee to Blois.
After the defeat of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
, King Henry called the Estates-General in the midst of intrigue and plotting. Henri of Guise planned to assassinate King Henry and seize the throne, but the king struck first, and had Guise killed by his fanatically loyal guards, The Forty-Five
The forty-five guards
The Forty-five guards were forty-five guards recruited by the Duke of Épernon to provide Henri III of France with trusted protection in the midst of the War of the Three Henrys....
.
Open war erupted between the Royalists and the Catholic League, and Henry III allied with his heir, Henry of Navarre. At first, the Royalist-Huguenots enjoyed astounding success and almost reached the gates of Paris, but Jacques Clément
Jacques Clément
Jacques Clément was the assassin of the French king Henry III.He was born at Serbonnes, in today's Yonne département, in Burgundy, and became a Dominican lay brother....
, a fanatical Catholic monk assassinated King Henry III at Saint-Cloud.
Many Catholic Royalists were unwilling to serve the Protestant Henry IV, and the army retreated from Paris.
In the Spring, Henry IV returned to the field; he won significant victories at Ivry
Ivry
Ivry is part of the name of multiple communes in France:* Ivry-la-Bataille, in the Eure département* Ivry-sur-Seine, in the Val-de-Marne départementIvry is also part of the name of a city in the province of Quebec:...
and Arques
Arques
Arques may refer to the following places in France:* Arques, Aude, in the Aude département* Arques, Aveyron, in the Aveyron département* Arques, Pas-de-Calais, in the Pas-de-Calais département...
and laid siege to Paris (despite being greatly outnumbered), but a Spanish army under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Alexander Farnese was Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1586 to 1592, and Governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1578 to 1592.-Biography:...
lifted the siege.
Deciding that further fighting was not worth the cost, Henry converted to Catholicism, saying: "Paris vaut bien une messe" ("Paris is worth a Mass"). The people of Paris were war-weary and disillusioned with the fanatical leaders of the League, and welcomed him amidst jubilation.
The war lasted several more years, as League diehards and Spanish troops continued to resist the reunification of France. But once those were dealt with, Henry IV's reign inaugurated a time of commerce and peace, commonly regarded as a golden age, and he remains one of France's most beloved kings.