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How did Henry IV become king of France?

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Henry IV Henry IV, undated copperplate engraving.

Henry of Navarre, who became Henry IV of France, ascended to the throne in 1589 following the assassination of King Henry III. As the leader of the Huguenots and the heir to the throne after the death of François, Duke of Anjou, in 1584, his succession was fiercely contested by the Catholic League, which sought to exclude him due to his Protestant faith.1

His path to securing the kingdom involved a nine-year struggle against the League and its Spanish allies. While he won significant military victories at Arques and Ivry, he realized that ending the civil war required broader support. Consequently, he undertook a final conversion to Roman Catholicism in July 1593. This act removed the primary pretext for resistance, leading to the submission of key cities, including Paris in 1594.21

Henry IV further solidified his rule by issuing the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which granted religious freedom to Protestants and helped end nearly 40 years of religious strife. Spain eventually recognized his title through the Treaty of Vervins in 1598.21