French Royal Song - Vive Henri IV

Credits: Fifres et Tambour de Fréjus “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 comes from Thoinot Arbeau’s work Orchesographie; it is the Branle Couppé “Cassandre“, while the lyrics were written for a comedy opera in 1770. At later dates, more lyrics were added to the song. and refers to the first Bourbon King of France, Henry IV (Henry III of Navarre), who had ended the Wars of Religion and restored peace to France (hence his sobriquet). Additional lyrics supporting either the Revolutionary or Restorationist causes were sung during the course of the French Revolution.