Abstract
Reviewed by: Dustin Neighbours, University of York, UK
Monarchs within the early modern period walked a fine line between being perceived as an ideal, heroic ruler or a heretical, unjust tyrant. Undeniably, the case of Henry III of France made him an unconventional figure. He has been the recipient of critical analysis by historians of the early modern period and garnered negative scrutiny from contemporary literature and accounts of the time.
Robert J. Knecht’s biography, Hero or Tyrant? Henry III, King of France, 1574–89, aims to set the record straight about this controversial king. Knecht points out that his goal for the monograph is to ‘bring [the king] to the notice of English-speaking readers’ and ‘fill the void’ (xi) by offering a biography of Henry III that has been missing from early modern historiography.
Knecht takes readers through the life of Alexandre-Edourd, as he was christened, or Henry III as he was known when he became king in 1574. Beginning with Henry’s childhood, Knecht recounts the dynamics of his large family and the influence of his mother, Catherine de Medici and brother, Charles IX. Henry was groomed for his role as king in sixteenth-century France, during the forced co-existence between Catholics and Huguenots. From the early years of Henry’s education and ‘apprenticeship’ to his rise as a Catholic hero and the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572, Knecht shares an abundance of information that helped shape Henry’s identity and thrust him onto the European stage. Knecht crafts a narrative of intrigue and drama with the tricky transition from being a successful admiral under his brother’s, Charles IX, government, to becoming the King of Poland in 1573, through an election among the noblemen.
Continuing with the death of Henry’s brother in 1574, and his hasty flight from the Polish royal throne, Henry’s return journey to France was filled with a constant bombardment of instruction letters from his imposing mother and meetings with elite noblemen, politicians and royal leaders. Arriving in France, a shift in the king’s demeanour was evident and marked the beginning of Henry’s new-found power and authority. His approach to his kingship was considered radical and different, as he became more inaccessible, which was outside the norm for the French court and for the royal family. Knecht’s climax of Henry’s story follows with the problematic coronation and quick wedding to Louise de Vaudémont, which was followed by a civil war that pit brother against brother. The culmination of the monograph highlights the religious and personal reformation of Henry III. This led to the decline of his power and authority, causing him to make catastrophic mistakes, such as ordering the Blois murders that contributed to an uproar and a kingdom torn apart, and ultimately ended in Henry’s death.
Knecht artfully forms a chronological biographical sketch of Henry III, with occasional thematic chapters. There is an abundance of information that makes the intriguing history tedious at times. There are also a few issues within the overall presentation of the monograph.
First, the brief introduction and conclusion of the monograph lacks a historical analysis that would have given context to the biography that Knecht has crafted. Secondly, the lack of identification and analysis of the contemporary literature, primary sources and accounts surrounding Henry III leaves academic scholars without historical content to engage with and expound upon. This has led to instances of speculation that are not supported with evidence. For instance, when discussing the marriage negotiations with Elizabeth I of England, Knecht mentions that Elizabeth’s ‘ministers were prepared to concede the terms’ (169) – what is his evidence for this? Thirdly, there are a few themes of the monograph that Knecht identifies early on that are closely associated with Henry III in scholarly works. He points out that ‘debauchery’ (xii), ‘reclusiveness’ (xi), and ‘love of extravagant display’ (xi) are intrinsically identified with Henry III. These points are not clearly explained or adequately addressed. In particular, when discussing the reclusiveness, Knecht could have explicated this when he mentions that Henry made himself less accessible upon becoming king. Finally, there are specific passages throughout the monograph that are hurried and glossed over, rather than explained and analysed to demonstrate how it contributes to our understanding of Henry and impacts the royal identity that he would later embrace. For example, Knecht talks about Henry’s ‘love of extravagant display’ but when talking about the progresses in the early part of his life, Knecht does not illustrate how this develops our understanding of who Henry was. This ‘love of extravagant display’ could have been further advanced when Knecht outlines Henry’s court in Chapter 11.
Though there are some issues from an academic perspective, this captivating and informational biography of a man who was portrayed as a construct of his mother’s influence and meddling, as well as misunderstood and catapulted into a volatile environment full of tension and religious strife, will be of general interest to a variety of audiences and students interested in the topic.