François Ravaillac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François Ravaillac
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François Ravaillac brandishing his dagger, in a 17th-century engraving
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| Born | 1578 Angoulême, France
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| Died | 27 May 1610 (aged 31–32) Paris, France
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| Criminal charge | Regicide |
François Ravaillac (1578 – 27 May 1610) was a French Catholic man. He is known for killing King Henry IV of France in 1610.
Contents
About François Ravaillac
His Early Life and Education
François Ravaillac was born in 1578 in Angoulême, France. His family was well-educated. His grandfather was a prosecutor, and two of his mother's brothers were priests at the Angoulême Cathedral.
His father, Jean Ravaillac, caused many public problems. His mother, Françoise Dubreuil, was known for being very religious. François first worked as a servant, then became a school teacher.
He was very interested in religion. He tried to join a religious group called the Feuillants. But he was asked to leave because he often had "visions." He also tried to join the Society of Jesus in 1606, but he was not accepted there either.
The Attack on the King
In 1609, Ravaillac believed he had a special vision. This vision told him to convince King Henry IV to change the Huguenots (French Protestants) to Catholicism.
Between 1609 and 1610, Ravaillac traveled to Paris three times. He wanted to tell the king about his vision. He stayed with Charlotte du Tillet, who knew an important duke named Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette.
Ravaillac could not meet the king. He thought King Henry's plan to go into the Spanish Netherlands meant the king would start a war against the Pope. Ravaillac wanted to stop this. So, he decided to attack the king.
On 14 May 1610, Ravaillac waited on Rue de la Ferronnerie in Paris. The king's carriage was stopped by a traffic jam. Ravaillac quickly got into the coach and attacked King Henry.
Ravaillac was immediately caught by the police. He was taken away to prevent an angry crowd from hurting him. He was then moved to a prison called the Conciergerie.
After the Attack
During questioning, Ravaillac was asked many times if he had help. He always said he acted alone. People wondered how he knew the king's route and about the traffic jam.
The king was going to visit Maximilien de Béthune, who was sick. The king was preparing for a military action related to the War of the Jülich Succession. This action would have put France against the Catholic Habsburg family. Ravaillac seemed to know about these plans. He believed the king wanted to "make war on the Pope."
After Ravaillac's death, his parents had to leave France. The rest of his family was told they could never use the name "Ravaillac" again.
See also
- Jacques Clément, who attacked King Henry III of France in 1589.
- Jean Châtel, who tried to attack King Henry IV of France in 1595.
- Michael Piekarski, who was inspired by Ravaillac and tried to attack Sigismund III of Poland in 1620.
- Robert-François Damiens, who tried to attack King Louis XV of France in 1757.
