The life of Henry IV (Henry of Navarre) was given in lecture on the Huguenot Tour of 1985 at Tours because of his importance to all Huguenots but to some members of the Maupin family it can have a special, interesting meaning. From the time of Francis I, when the rebellion against the Church first was gaining ground in France to the time when Henry II died in 1559 making his Italian wife, Catherine de Medicis, the Regent of France, there was constant turmoil between the nobles and the monarchy. The Protestant nobles were led by Admiral Gaspard de Coligy and the Prince de Conde, who wanted the restoration of their ancient rights and privileges. On the other side was the powerful Roman Catholic element led by the de Guise family who not only hated the Huguenots but even more wanted to rule France. So the Queen Mother Catherine had to make the right moves. She felt the Huguenots did not want to seek the throne and their demands were modest therefore the de Guise family was the greater menace. Queen Catherine had a daughter named Margaret, besides her three sons. Margaret was considered the loveliest woman of her day. But history proved her to be as cunning as her mother. Queen Catherine knew the power of the Catholic de Guise family and something had to be done. So her beautiful Margaret's marriage to the young King Henry of Navarre would be arranged. There was nothing in the background of this young man to indicate that he would grow into the greatest leader France had known in her long history. Henry was born in the little town of Pau in the Pyrenees on December 14, 1553, the son of Antoine de Bourbon, a nobleman of high social standing but without power. He was a descendant of Louis IX, so he and Henry could claim a king of France as their ancestor. Henry's mother was Jeanne d'Aibret, Queen of Navarre, which was a tiny kingdom on the border of France and Spain. Its traditions and language were French and its people had early accepted the teachings of John Calvin with great enthusiasm. Practically the whole kingdom, nobles and commoners alike, were Protestant as was Henry. Henry very early in life showed courage and leadership and when he joined the Protestant Army it was under the command of the great Admiral de Coligny. Henry learned well the life of a soldier and he learned to study human nature. In 1572, Henry's mother died which made him King Henry of Navarre. Queen Catherine decided to make her move. Even though she did not like the idea of having a "heretic" in her family she wanted the King Henry of Navarre, a Protestant stronghold, under her control where she could keep an eye on him. So the proposal was made and Henry accepted. The wedding was held in a chapel at the Louvre. The Catholic Church could not
publicly approve of the marriage of Princess Margaret, sister of King Charles of France, to a "heretic" so the wedding could not be he I d in Notre Dame. By this time Henry of Navarre had become the symbol of the Huguenots. Dozens of Protestant noblemen accepted the invitation to his wedding. The presence of so many of these heretics under one roof gave Queen Catherine an idea as wicked as it was cruel. They could, the Queen Mother decided, destroy two enemies at once. Bands of hired murderers could kill off all the Huguenot leaders. This would render the ordinary Protestants helpless and their movement would collapse. At the same time, this assault on the "heretics" would prove to the Catholics of France that King Charles IX and the Queen Mother Catherine were the true protectors of their faith and the influence of the de Guise family could be defeated. A series of balls, receptions, and other social activities were planned before and after the wedding. Queen Catherine decided to have all the Huguenot leaders killed at the same time during the festivities. Then the plans changed to include all the Huguenots living in Paris. Several troops were assigned to the task. Margaret took an active part in the conspiracy. She was to keep her new husband in her quarters to be ready for the killer's knives. But it did not happen that way. On the morning of August 23, 1572, Henry _of Navarre quarreled with his wife and left her quarters for a walk with his Huguenot friend, Agrippa d'Aubigne. The assassins who rushed into Margaret's suite did not find Henry but the carnage of the Huguenots known as the St. Bartholomew"s Day Massacre had begun that day. The Massacre gathered speed throughout Paris and Protestants were slaughtered everywhere from the Louvre to their own modest homes, with 10,000 being killed in France. A crowd caught Admiral de Coligny outside his house and knifed him in cold blood. On Sunday, October 13, 1985, we members of the Huguenot Tour were participants in a Communion service with an inspiring sermon at the Protestant Temple de L'Oratori re du Louvre in Paris. Following the service, a wreath was laid outside the church below the statue of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny to commemorate his sacrifice of his life for the Huguenot cause. The wreath dedication speech and a beautiful prayer, thanking our Heavenly Father for our Huguenot ancestors who gave of themselves, their earthly goods, home, kinsmen, country, and even life itself, was made. It was a beautiful day. On this August 23, 1572, Henry of Navarre having left his wife's quarters, was walking with his Huguenot friend, Agrippe d'Aubigne near Notre Dame when the rioting started and they heard the shouts "Death to all Huguenots"! Knowing he would be recognized and killed, he reacted instantly. They hurried into the cathedral and Henry stripped off his cape of gold cloth, his rings, and other signs of wealth. Clad only in the doublet,
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KING HENRY IV AND THE EDICT OF NANTES
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