Vive Henri IV ! (Long live Henry IV!; 1590) Anthem of the Kingdom of France (987 – 1792)

Please consider Joining our Discord for to learn and talk about History and Music! Info about the song: “Marche Henri IV“, alternatively “Vive Henri IV“ or “Vive le roi Henri“, is a popular French song celebrating King Henry IV of France (also known as Le Bon Roi Henri, “Good King Henry“). The melody is heard of as early as 1581, when it is mentioned in the book of christmas songs of Christophle de Bordeaux, under the name “Chant de la Cassandre“. It was the royal and national anthem of the Kingdom of France. Thoinot Arbeau, in his Orchesographie (1889) gives us a music score of the air as the “Branle Couppé Cassandre“. The air was adapted around 1600, presumably by Eustache du Caurroy, to fit new lyrics celebrating the then King of France. Three other verses were written for a comedy opera by Charles Collé in 1770, called La partie de chasse de Henri IV. At later dates, more lyrics were added