Henri d’Albret became King of Navarre* two years after François I became King of France. The two young kings became allies. François rewarded the King of Navarre’s loyalty in battle when he organised the marriage of his sister Marguerite to the young Henri.
Marguerite and Henri had only one surviving child, a daughter Jeanne d’Albret, who became heir to the throne of Navarre. Jeanne’s uncle, Francois I, insisted she should be brought up in the French court.
Shortly after Francois’ death Jeanne married Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme. At the age of 26, Jeanne inherited the throne of Navarre (the Salic Law did not apply there). Jeanne and Antoine had five children with only two surviving – a son and heir Henri and a daughter Catherine.
When young Henri de Navarre was born, his mother’s cousin was King Henri II of France. Henri de Navarre’s father Antoine was the first prince in France**. That meant that thanks to the Salic Law, he would be next in line to the French throne — if Henri II died without a male heir.
Antoine de Bourbon died shortly before his son Henri’s ninth birthday. He knew his son would become King of Navarre but he would not have envisaged that he would also become King of France.
* Navarre was an independent kingdom between Spain (then Castille and Aragon) and France. Throughout history a number of daughters of French Kings had been the Queen of Navarre. The capital city was Pamplona. Shortly before Francois I became King of France, Ferdinand of Aragon had seized a large part of the Kingdom of Navarre. The King and Queen of Navarre fled to Bearn and set up their capital in Pau.
** The “Princes of the Blood” were direct descendants of the French royal family who were next in line to the throne if the son or sons of the current king died without a male heir. Antoine de Bourbon was first in line if that occurred. When Antoine died it didn’t seem likely because the current King of France, Charles IX was 12 years old. Even if he died without an heir he had a younger brother who would inherit the throne.
