Hero or Tyrant? Henry III, King of France, 1574-89

Based upon a rich and diverse range of primary sources, this book traces Henry’s life from his birth in 1551. Providing the first English language biography of Henry for over 150 years, this study thoroughly and dispassionately reassesses his life in light of recent scholarship and in the context of broader European diplomatic, political and religious history. In so doing the book not only provides a more nuanced portrait of the monarch himself, but also helps us better understand the history of France during this traumatic time.