Henri IV: My Favorite French King

I’ve always been fascinated by Henri IV. He is my favorite French king, and in my view, he is most responsible for the traditions of artistry and luxury that have become emblematic of France. While many are familiar with the extravagant lifestyles of Louis XIV, Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette, few realize that their grand style of living would not have been possible without the groundwork laid by Henri IV.

Henri IV, King of Navarre, ascended to the throne in 1589 during one of the most tumultuous periods in French history. For nearly thirty years, Catholics and Protestants were locked in a bloody civil war, massacring each other and wreaking havoc across the countryside. Henri IV, a Protestant when he became king, won several impressive military victories. However, he was unable to capture Paris. In a brilliant political move, he converted to Catholicism, winning over his enemies and issuing the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which granted religious tolerance to Protestants and effectively ended the wars of religion.

As King of France, Henri IV set about uniting the country, stabilizing the economy, and restoring peace. His economic recovery program was one of the most innovative aspects of his reign. He reorganized the country’s finances, reduced taxes on the peasantry, and enacted a debt moratorium that alleviated pressure on the nobility. Henri IV also implemented a vast infrastructure program that built roads, bridges, and irrigation systems, helping to revitalize France’s economy. Agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce were encouraged, setting the stage for economic prosperity. Henri IV famously promised that he wanted “a chicken in every pot for every peasant,” symbolizing his desire to ensure that the common people could enjoy a better quality of life and have enough food to feed their families—a promise of economic security and peace for all.

Henri IV’s reign also laid the foundation for France’s future luxury industries. He and his ministers attracted skilled craftsmen from across Europe, rebuilding entire industries in France. Dutch settlers drained marshes and developed irrigation systems near Saintonge, Italian weavers established the silk industry near Tours and Lyon, and Flemish tapestry makers opened factories in and around Paris. Henri IV even conferred exclusive rights to Italian artisans to produce glass in selected cities. Additionally, state aid was provided to manufacturers in places like Brissambourg and Nevers (near Limoges) to encourage the production of porcelain.

Henri IV’s contributions to Paris’s beauty are also worth noting. He oversaw the construction of the Pont Neuf, Hôtel-de-Ville, and the Place des Vosges. He also began work on the restoration of the Louvre and the completion of the Tuileries Gardens. The Palais du Luxembourg, built for his second wife, Marie de Médicis, was completed during the reign of their son, Louis XIII.

While Henri IV’s reign laid the groundwork for France’s future as a center of art, culture, and craftsmanship, the golden age of French artistry and luxury truly flourished under his successor, Louis XIV. It was under Louis XIV’s rule that the arts were fully institutionalized and refined, with the creation of state-sponsored institutions like the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture (Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture). However, Henri IV’s support of craftsmanship, his encouragement of artisans, and his commitment to improving infrastructure were crucial first steps in the development of the luxury goods that would eventually define France’s cultural and economic legacy.

Henri IV was not only a courageous and innovative leader who united the country, but he was also a patron of the arts who established the foundation for the luxury industries that would come to be admired worldwide. His reign marked the beginning of France’s commitment to quality craftsmanship and refined living—a legacy that continues to define the French art de vivre today.