ABSTRACT
As Henri IV galloped around his kingdom subduing cities, receiving homage from defeated countrymen, enjoying victories and acclamation, triumphal entries into the cities of his realm helped to achieve his well-planned political strategies. The king's arrival in Rouen in 1596 was markedly different. There is no settled view on the nature and purpose of a royal entry. Thus the city is perceived as having equal status with its young royal visitor. This royal gesture represents the king's understanding of the role he has to play. Belief was transformed into fact in the imagery and activity involved on the third monument erected for the festival. Metaphors of architect and builder, slayer of monsters, supported by the abiding presence of divine help were ways of rendering manifest those qualities which were also evoked in more explicit ways. The afterlife of the images created for Rouen was considerable in so far as they anticipated later images used in propaganda for the monarchy.
