The only bed we have associated with Henri is his cradle, which can be found in the Chateau of Pau where he was born.
Only the royal family’s children were housed in the royal residences. Their cradle was a power statement, particularly if, as in the case of Henri, the baby was the heir to the throne. The best architects and artisans worked on the design and no expense was spared.
Henri’s ornate cradle was made of tortoiseshell and gilded wood. The fabrics were silk, taffeta and embroidered velvet.
In the 18th century the cradle became a relic for the town of Pau. During the French Revolution in 1793 the cradle was seized from the chateau and burnt in front of the crowd – or was it?? The story goes that a royalist had managed to substitute the real cradle for a copy and it was the copy which was burnt. When Henri’s great great great great grandson, Louis XVIII, came back to rule France in 1814 the “original” cradle was presented to him. The cradle was trimmed with reminders of Henri IV’s military prowess such as gilded lances and a magnificent helmet with white plumes.
The white feather – “Ralliez-vous a mon panache blanc” (“Follow my white plume”).
According to two of France’s most famous authors, leading his troops into a famous battle during the Wars of Religion, Henri gave a rousing speech, telling his troops he would live or die with them. He wanted to make sure they could see where he was during the battle by placing large white feathers on his hat.
For more, take a look at our beds for babies section.
