Henri 4 (Henry of Navarre) (Henri 4)

France, 1 561 .

The most powerful country in Europe is torn apart by a religious war.

On the one side: the Catholics, who control the court in Paris.

On the other side: the Protestants, known as the Huguenots.

In the beginning, they were a smaII minority.

Soon they were joined

by anyone who was discontented with the government in Paris.

Catherine de' Medici rules there.

She is trying to hoId on to power for her three sons.

But in Southern France, in the smaII Kingdom of Navarre,

an adversary is growing. One she knows nothing about.

Henry of Navarre

Spread your legs or we can't see a thing!

I want to have a go!

- Get lost, you aren't one of us. - I am the Prince.

Exactly!

A prince can do the same as anyone else and even more.

We'll see.

- Hit him. - Knock him down!

You're stronger than the Prince.

I can have you put on a spit and roasted like a pig.

All I need to do is order it.

I guess I went a bit too far there.

But I had to gain their respect.

EvidentIy, it worked.

I can say I had an easy chiIdhood in our small region, Navarre,

at the foot of the Pyrenees.

At Ieast untiI that fatefuI day in September, 1 563.

When unfortunateIy, everything changed.

That was the devil.

- Henry, where are you, my Prince? - Here.

I am over here, Beauvois.

You must return to the castle. We have an important visitor.

What are you doing with these peasants?

Now you need a bath!

- Peasant girls have pretty legs. - You take after your father.

- He was a hero! - A hero with the ladies.

I will be too!

God forbid! That's nothing to be proud of.

- And why not? - You are too young for that.

I'm freezing, Beauvois.

Mother!

What a brave countenance.

He is the one.

He is still but a child.

Yet he has more power than any other living person.

Protect your son.

He has the mark of a king.

Of the King of France.

I thank you, Master Nostradamus.

Where is Paris?

Fine, I'll show you.

This is Paris.

And we are here.

This little territory is Navarre.

Your kingdom.

- And all of this is France? - Yes, that's France.

- They're bringing in the harvest. - You're not a peasant, Prince.

You are to be the King of France if your mother has her way.

I don't want to go to Paris.

I want to stay here, with you.

My boy. You shall have no choice.

Run along.

Take this sword, my Prince.

It was your father's.

Please bless him, Admiral.

From then on Admiral Coligny, the great Ieader of the Huguenots,

was to be a father to me.

You are our hope for the throne of France.

You shall champion the just cause and lead us to triumph.

l was taught that the Catholics were our worst enemies.

No one couId teII me why. Not even my teacher, Beauvois.

Lances ready!

I'm scared!

We are all scared, my Prince.

Mother!

Go away, get lost!

Go to hell!

You are very brave, my Prince.

What are you doing?

I'm washing my pants.

Your first battle?

I filled my pants in my first battle too.

No one is born a hero. Here, take these.

Their owner won't need them.

He did more than sprain his neck.

Agrippa, I've been looking for you.

We wanted to see the Admiral.

Who is that?

Someone with battle-browned britches.

The Prince of Navarre.

I am delighted to meet you, Prince.

- Who are you? - I am the Prince of Navarre.

Forgive me, Prince. I didn't know.

And who are you?

Two poor poets whose verses serve no one in such times.

He is Agrippa d'Aubigné and I'm Guillaume du Bartas.

You, a poet? That's news to me!

And you, a clothes thief. That's nothing new.

He's right!

Ideal company for a prince.

I want to go home, Beauvois.

This tent is your home, my Prince.

For many years thereafter, this mean tent wouId be my home.

War and death wouId be my escorts.

And hatred for everything CathoIic.

This is the Catholics' doing.

I want to eat you up.

My Prince, Prince Henry!

Your mother, Queen Jeanne, is coming.

She's here.

It reeks of fish in your tent.

And garlic. That's me.

Come to the Admiral's tent.

Word from Paris.

They made an offer.

Because they fear us.

As they should.

Catherine wants peace with the Huguenots.

The slaughter can end.

We agree.

That's new.

But as a sign of reconciliation, she expects a sacrifice.

The Queen of France

offers you her daughter Margot in marriage.

- Never was the throne so close! - Nor peace.

That's what you always wanted.

I don't even know this Margot.

They say her beauty is beyond compare.

Paris, Louvre Palace.

Margot is a sow!

One does not speak so of one's sister.

- You are the King! - In the eyes of the world maybe.

In truth...

Leave us.

Mind your words before my maids!

Is it not true?

- You hold the power. - I speak of Margot.

That bitch slept with Guise!

Lord Almighty!

Does she have to spread her legs for everyone!

- I hate Guise! - Me too.

On that we agree.

If there's a threat to you, it's Guise!

He pretends to be even more Catholic than us.

The people love him.

I'll have him castrated, mother.

- I am the King. - You are nothing.

Nothing at all, without me.

Let me take care of it.

What is my brother, the King, saying about me?

- The truth. - Why did you sleep with Guise?

You know he covets the throne!

How dare you?

With Guise!

You...

How dare you?

- You whore! - Put her over your knee.

You'll pay for that!

You'll pay.

That's enough.

We shall marry you off.

But certainly not to Guise!

To Henry of Navarre.

You can't be serious?

We've never been more serious.

You've lost your minds.

I want peace in my country.

- This marriage is the price. - Never!

Why does it matter which cock pecks you?

He smells of garlic, mother, and behaves like a peasant.

He is a Huguenot, mother!

Your marriage is a symbol.

- The reconciliation of our faiths. - Over my dead body!

My son, you made a wise decision.

No farewell kiss?

We shall negotiate skilfully.

Catherine shall not have it all her way.

Remember our maxim: Conquer or die.

Enough have died.

Dear Catherine, take care of our mother.

Henry, I'm scared.

The Admiral will protect you.

Go.

What do you think, Beauvois?

There are worse sacrifices than sharing a bed with a beautiful woman.

You know I love you like a son.

Nothing will make you happier than the joy of those you bring peace to.

For violence is strong

but kindness is stronger.

I hope you had a good journey.

Paris is far away.

And I am all the more grateful that you came.

Don't be too hasty.

Dear friend, we will come to an agreement.

What is religion in the end?

Religion is the substance of my life!

Who knows how long God shall grant it to us?

It's been a long time since I've felt this good.

Cheers!