Henri III (1551-89). Third son of Henri II. Having been elected king of Poland in 1573, this intelligent but unstable man succeeded Charles IX on the throne of France in 1574. Popular with contemporaries for his early military prowess, he earned their increasing disdain—and subsequently the fierce attacks of d'Aubigné—because of his adoration of his favourites and his excessive indulgence in religious devotions. He eventually decided to free himself from the dominance of the Catholic Ligue by having its leaders assassinated, and paid the price when he himself fell victim to the assassin's knife. He was a generous patron of the arts [see Académie de Poésie et de Musique].
[James Supple]
