King Henry IV of France, a beloved figure who ushered in an era of peace and stability after decades of religious wars, met a tragic end on May 14th, 1610. Due to heavy traffic, his carriage was stalled in a narrow Parisian street, Rue de la Ferronnerie. This unexpected delay presented a fatal opportunity for François Ravaillac, a Catholic zealot driven by religious extremism. Ravaillac seized the moment, lunging at the king and stabbing him twice in the chest. Henry died instantly. The assassination plunged France back into uncertainty and shattered the fragile unity Henry had painstakingly built. Ravaillac was swiftly apprehended, tortured, and executed, but the king’s death marked a turning point in French history.
