Henry III is assassinated at St. Cloud, to the west of Paris, by a fanatical Dominican monk called Jacques Clement. This Valois king, who has no direct heirs, chooses on his deathbed to recognise Henry of Navarre as his successor, despite his Huguenot faith. Navarre then claims the throne as Henry IV, but is challenged by the joint Catholic forces of Spain and the League, who put forward Philip II's daughter Isabel as a rival claimant.
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Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Henry III is assassinated by Jacques Clement, a fanatical monk". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 February 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=15392, accessed 29 March 2024.]