Henry IV to Gabrielle d'Estrées

The Lovers
Henry IV of France (1553-1610) was the first Bourbon king of France. He brought a high degree of unity to a country riven by religious differences. King of Navarre from 1572 and king of France from 1589, he was a skilled negotiator and a brilliant soldier in the field. He vacillated between Catholicism and Protestantism a number of times, partly to aid his political policy at the time, and partly because he was genuinely tolerant of both. He married twice, first in 1572 to his Catholic cousin Marguerite de Valois and again in 1600 to Marie de Médicis. But Gabrielle d'Estrées was probably the woman who exerted the most influence on him. He fathered her three children, along with many others by other mistresses and his second wife. He was assassinated in Paris in 1610.	Gabrielle d'Estrées (1573-99) daughter of the marquis of Coeuvres, became mistress to Henry IV in 1591, at age 18, and remained so until her death in childbirth at the age of 26. Her family was manipulative and power seeking, and there is much dispute as to whether Gabrielle was used by them or self-seeking in her unsuccessful pursuit of the title Queen of France. Henry certainly regarded her as his wife in all but name. She had three children by hi, César, Catherine-Henriette, and Alexandre, all of whom were legitimized, founding the Vendôme branch of the House of Bourbon.

The Lovers

Henry IV of France
(1553-1610)
was the first Bourbon king of France. He brought a high degree of unity to a country riven by religious differences. King of Navarre from 1572 and king of France from 1589, he was a skilled negotiator and a brilliant soldier in the field. He vacillated between Catholicism and Protestantism a number of times, partly to aid his political policy at the time, and partly because he was genuinely tolerant of both. He married twice, first in 1572 to his Catholic cousin Marguerite de Valois and again in 1600 to Marie de Médicis. But Gabrielle d'Estrées was probably the woman who exerted the most influence on him. He fathered her three children, along with many others by other mistresses and his second wife. He was assassinated in Paris in 1610.

Gabrielle d'Estrées
(1573-99)
daughter of the marquis of Coeuvres, became mistress to Henry IV in 1591, at age 18, and remained so until her death in childbirth at the age of 26. Her family was manipulative and power seeking, and there is much dispute as to whether Gabrielle was used by them or self-seeking in her unsuccessful pursuit of the title Queen of France. Henry certainly regarded her as his wife in all but name. She had three children by hi, César, Catherine-Henriette, and Alexandre, all of whom were legitimized, founding the Vendôme branch of the House of Bourbon.

From the battle field before Dreux
June 16, 1593

I have waited patiently for one whole day without news of you; I have been counting the time and that's what it must be. But a second day--I can see no reason for it, unless my servants have grown lazy or been captured by the enemy, for I dare not put the blame on you, my beautiful angel: I am too confident of your affection--which is certainly due to me, for my love was never greater, nor my desire more urgent; that is why I repeat this refrain in all my letters: come, come, come, my dear love. Honor with your presence the man who, if only he were free, would go a thousand miles to throw himself at your feet and never move from there.

As for what is happening here, we have drained the water from the moat, but our cannon are not going to be in place until Friday when, God willing, I will dine in town. The day after you reach Mantes, my sister will arrive at Anet, where I will have the pleasure of seeing you every day. I am sending you a bouquet of orange blossom that I have just received. I kiss the hands of the Vicomtess [Gabrielle's sister, Françoise] if she is there, and of my good friend [his sister, Catherine of Bourbon], and as for you, my dear love, I kiss your feet a million times.

Their Story

Text from
Famous Love Letters
Messages of Intimacy and Passion
Edited by Ronald Tamplin