Henry IV (1553-1610), king of France. He ascended the throne in 1589. He is known in history as Henry of Navarre. He became the head of the Huguenot party on the death of the Prince de Conde in 1569. He married Margaret of Valois, sister of Charles IX of France, in 1572. Subsequent to the massacre of St. Bartholomew, he put an end to the civil wars of France by embracing the Roman Catholic religion. In this way he secured the adherence of the Roman Catholics, and was crowned by the united nation at Chartres in 1594. To secure his old followers, he published the Edict of Nantes April 15, 1598. He was assassinated by a fanatic named Ravaillac.

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