How did Henry IV encourage agriculture in France?

King Henry IV of France, with the assistance of his trusted minister Maximilien de Béthune, Duke de Sully, implemented several measures to encourage and restore agriculture following the devastation of the religious wars.

Under the direction of Sully, the government took the following actions to support the agricultural sector:

• Infrastructure Development: The administration promoted the construction of new roads and bridges to improve the transportation and flow of produce.12
• Land Improvement: Efforts were made to drain marshlands, including the use of Dutch and Flemish settlers to reclaim land in areas such as Saintonge.12
• Resource Management: The government actively checked the destruction of forests and encouraged the free circulation of agricultural produce.1
• Trade Stimulation: Henry IV pursued commercial treaties with nations like Spain and England, which helped stimulate the export of cattle, grain, and wine.32

These initiatives were part of a broader effort to bring order and prosperity back to France, reflecting the king's desire to improve the welfare of his subjects, famously symbolized by his wish that every laborer could afford a chicken to eat every Sunday.2