Henry IV (1553–1610)

King of France from 1589. Son of Antoine de Bourbon and Jeanne, Queen of Navarre, he was brought up as a Protestant and from 1576 led the Huguenots. On his accession he settled the religious question by adopting Catholicism while tolerating Protestantism. He restored peace and strong government to France and brought back prosperity by measures for the promotion of industry and agriculture and the improvement of communications. He was assassinated by a Catholic extremist.

Henry IV (1367–1413)

An illustration from a 14th-century manuscript of French historian Jean Froissart's Chronicles. The picture shows Richard II of England as a prisoner in the Tower of London, England. The king is relinquishing his crown and sceptre to Henry, Duke of Lancaster, who subsequently became king as Henry IV.

King of England from 1399, the son of John of Gaunt. In 1398 he was banished by Richard II but returned in 1399 to head a revolt and be accepted as king by Parliament. He was succeeded by his son Henry V.

He had difficulty in keeping the support of Parliament and the clergy, and had to deal with baronial unrest and Owen Glendower's rising in Wales. In order to win support he had to conciliate the Church by a law for the burning of heretics, and to make many concessions to Parliament. The Percy family was defeated at Shrewsbury in 1403, and the Earl of Northumberland was beaten at Bramham Moor in 1408.

Henry IV (1050–1106)

Holy Roman Emperor from 1056. He was involved from 1075 in a struggle with the papacy. Excommunicated twice (1076 and 1080), Henry deposed Gregory VII and set up the antipope Clement III (died 1191) by whom he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor 1084.

Late in his reign, Henry's sons Conrad and Henry (the future emperor Henry V) rebelled. Henry was forced to abdicate and took refuge in Liège, where he died.