Henri IV

Henri IV was a King of France from 1589 to 1610, notable for ending France’s long period of religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants. Originally a Protestant himself, he converted to Catholicism to unify the country, famously declaring, "Paris is well worth a mass." His leadership brought stability, economic growth, and religious tolerance through policies like the Edict of Nantes, which granted limited freedoms to Protestants. Henri IV is remembered as a pragmatic ruler who prioritized national unity and the well-being of his people, laying the foundation for France’s future prosperity.