Henry III of France

Reign: 1574 – 1589
Life: 1551–1589

During his brief rule, he refused to sign the Henrician Articles into law, which would recognise the szlachta's right to freely elect their monarch. The Henrician Articles became, nonetheless, deeply rooted in Poland's politics as all his successors accepted them. Aged 22, Henry abandoned Poland, Lithuania upon inheriting the French throne when his brother, Charles IX of France, died without issue. Henry III was himself a politique, arguing that only a strong and centralised yet religiously tolerant monarchy would save France from collapse.

During Henry III of France's reign, Elizabeth I of England ruled England, John III of Sweden ruled Sweden, and Murad III ruled Ottoman Empire.

Want to learn more? Further reading

The Cambridge Illustrated History of France by Colin Jones

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The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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