DBWI: Henri IV converts to Catholicism

Henry IV was a Huguenot, but he considered converting to Catholicism to secure his throne. After his infamous Nantes Address, proclaiming a reaffirmation of his Protestantism and freedom of worship throughout France, he was assassinated by the radical Catholic priest Father Guignard. His sister, Catherine I, led the regency for the 5 year old Prince Henri (the nearest in line for the monarchy) and cracked down on Catholicism, leading to a massive civil war that would not be ended until the rise of Philip VII. What if Henry had converted to Catholicism in 1593 instead of issuing the Nantes Address? Would he still have been assassinated? How different would France have been in the 16-17th centuries?
 
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Ooc: Did Henry change the salic law in France?

(OOC: Um... correct me if I'm wrong, but dosen't France have strict Agnatic Succession laws that make it so Catherine has no claim on the throne of France? How on earth is anybody accepting this?)

OOC: I couldn’t find a close male relative, and I figured she’d try to claim the throne—she seems politically savvy. Perhaps alt-Henry also officially made her his heir
 
Henry IV was a Huguenot, but he considered converting to Catholicism to secure his throne. After his infamous Nantes Address, proclaiming a reaffirmation of his Protestantism and freedom of worship throughout France, he was assassinated by the radical Catholic priest Father Guignard. His sister, Catherine I, came to the throne and cracked down on Catholicism, leading to a massive civil war that would not be ended until the rise of Philip VII. What if Henry had converted to Catholicism in 1593 instead of issuing the Nantes Address? Would he still have been assassinated? How different would France have been in the 16-17th centuries?

Perhaps not Catherine but Prince Conde? Or whoever was on the legitimate line of succession.

But if, as stipulated, Henry converted, then he had to grant the Huguenots the extensive privileges to calm them down. Taking into an account that these privileges would create de facto state within the state and that the Huguenots would be resisting any attempts of the government to restrict them, there would be a series of uprisings that are going to end with a gradual revocation of these privileges: under any established and reasonably competent government the Huguenots would find themselves a military weaker minority and, if the state plays it correctly, not even the united one.
 
OOC: At that point, a change in the Salic law to ensure Protestantism as the state religion is a very fast recipe for civil war.
 
OOC: I couldn’t find a close male relative, and I figured she’d try to claim the throne—she seems politically savvy. Perhaps alt-Henry also officially made her his heir

(OOC: Henri II, Prince of Conde, would be the closest patralinial relation. And as son of an influential and famous Hugeunot general would be a rather viable choice as the head of a regeime set on cracking down on Catholicism and bringing in Protestant rights. Given he's 5 at the time of Nantes, just relabel things so Catharine is leading a regency and youd be golden without shifts in the premise)
 
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(OOC: Henri II, Prince of Conde, would be the closest patralinial relation. And as son of an influential and famous Hugeunot general would be a rather viable choice as the head of a regeime set on cracking down on Catholicism and bringing in Protestant rights. Given he's 5 at the time of Nantes, just relabel things so Catharine is leading a regency and youd be golden without shifts in the premise)

OOC: great, I’ll fix that
 
Henry V of France and Henry IV of Navarre (OOC: this guy)'s relationship is also interesting. Catherine married Henry IV to Princess Eleonore (sister of the French King) and wed Henry V to her niece, the other Catherine de'Medici.

Henry IV apparently raged at his brother-in-law for receiving "a bastard Queen" due to the questionable fidelity of Charlotte Catherine, and Henry V called Catherine for many years "the barren witch" for how long it took for the birth of an heir (it wasn't until 1629 when she gave birth to Henry and Catherine, and then she died due to complications from childbirth). One of the few things the men could agree on was cursing "the mother of their misfortune".
 
Henry V of France and Henry IV of Navarre (OOC: this guy)'s relationship is also interesting. Catherine married Henry IV to Princess Eleonore (sister of the French King) and wed Henry V to her niece, the other Catherine de'Medici.

Henry IV apparently raged at his brother-in-law for receiving "a bastard Queen" due to the questionable fidelity of Charlotte Catherine, and Henry V called Catherine for many years "the barren witch" for how long it took for the birth of an heir (it wasn't until 1629 when she gave birth to Henry and Catherine, and then she died due to complications from childbirth). One of the few things the men could agree on was cursing "the mother of their misfortune".


Yup
 
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