# Henry III assassinated (1589)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/1589-henry-iii-assassinated
Location: Saint-Cloud
Categories: ruler-change

The last Valois king was killed by a radical friar. Within the broader Renaissance & Wars of Religion period, Renaissance monarchy brought Italian wars, humanist culture and overseas exploration. The Reformation then fractured the kingdom, producing decades of civil war between Catholic and Protestant factions. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is Henry IV (King of France). Henry III assassinated mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
Henry III assassinated mattered because succession and legitimacy shaped alliances, institutions and the direction of state policy.

Ruler at the time: [Henry IV](https://history-france.com/rulers/henry-iv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Henry III assassinated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Henry+III+assassinated&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Henry III assassinated](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Henry+III+assassinated)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of French history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_French_history)