Head of King Henry IV Found; Victim of Religious Intolerance

The mummified head of King Henry IV has been found. Pulled from the attic of a retired tax collector, the head has been studied by scientists using state-of-the-art technology to determine its identity. The king was assassinated 400 years ago after proclaiming freedom of religion. 

Known as the Good King or Green Gallant, Henry brought the end to the French Wars of Religion by signing an edict declaring freedom of religion in France in 1598. He was assassinated by a fanatical Catholic, François Ravaillac, in May of 1610. It is ironic, that in a time of religious intolerance towards Muslims in France, the head of King Henry IV would be found. 

The head was severed from the King’s body by revolutionaries in 1793 and disappeared. It surface in a private viewing in 1854. It was seen again in 1919 when the head was auctioned off for a measly 3 Francs. A complete description of the scientist’s study of the head of King Henry IV was published this week in the British Medical Journal. The article is very interesting and gives an insight to the King and the results of the study. 

The King Henry IV head will be buried next year with honors. In a time when religious intolerance is running rampant, the head should not only be honored, but the ideas, which it once held, should be studied. Conservatives of today are promoting the same ideas that killed Henry. When will we ever learn to destroy religious hate?

 

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