La Henriade

E36408

La Henriade is an epic poem by Voltaire that celebrates the reign of Henry IV of France while promoting Enlightenment ideals of religious tolerance and reason.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf epic poem
aimsTo reconcile heroism with philosophical reflection
associatedWith French Enlightenment literature
author Voltaire
centralEvent Siege of Paris (1590)
centralFigure Henry IV of France
countryOfOrigin France
criticizes Catholic League
fanaticism
religious intolerance
dedicatedTo Queen Caroline of Ansbach
firstCompleteEditionYear 1728
firstPublishedIn London
genre didactic poem
epic poetry
hasForm ten cantos in rhymed couplets
hasTranslation English
German
Italian
Russian
Spanish
historicalBasis reign of Henry IV of France
influencedBy Torquato Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata
Virgil's Aeneid
classical epic tradition
languageStyle neoclassical
literaryForm heroic poem
literaryMovement Enlightenment
mainSubject Henry IV of France
meter alexandrine
narrativeForm verse
numberOfCantos 10
originalLanguage French
partOf Voltaire's political and religious writings
periodOfComposition early 18th century
portrays Henry IV of France as a tolerant ruler
promotes Enlightenment ideals
rational governance
religious tolerance
separation of politics from religious fanaticism
publicationYear 1723
settingPeriod French Wars of Religion
settingPlace France
theme civil war and peace
critique of religious fanaticism
political legitimacy
reason
religious tolerance
virtue of the sovereign

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Voltaire
notableWork

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