Background
Henry"s ancestors in four generations.
Henry"s ancestors in four generations.
After the latest failed reconquest attempt of Navarre in 1516, John III died, followed by Catherine I"s demise in her independent dependencies of Béarn (1517). Heir apparent Henry was proclaimed, and was lavishly crowned in Lescar. After ineffectual conferences at Noyon in 1516 and at Montpellier in 1518, an active effort was made in 1521 to establish him in de facto sovereignty in Pamplona and occupied territory.
A French and Navarrese expedition made another attempt at reconquering occupied Navarre, but were ultimately repelled by Charles after the Battle of Noain (June 1521).
In 1525, Henry was taken prisoner at the Battle of Pavia, but he contrived to escape under a guise and in 1526, married Margaret, sister of King Francis I and widow of Charles, Duke of Alençon. By her, he was the father of Joan III of Navarre, and was consequently the grandfather of Henry IV of France.
In 1530, after the Treaty of Cambrai between Castile and France, Charles V evacuated the northernmost county (merindad) of Navarre, Lower Navarre, allowing Henry to seize lieutenant The Pyrenean border between Lower and Upper Navarre now constitutes the Franco-Spanish border in this sector.
He died at Hagetmau on 25 May 1555.