Henry's abjuration of the Protestant faith on 25 July 1593 at the Abbey of Saint-Denis proved decisive in winning over many of his opponents. His legitimisation proceeded in stages. The archbishop of Bourges raised his excommunication, though without papal authority, during the abjuration ceremony. The following year, Henry had himself anointed and crowned at Chartres cathedral.Henry chose Chartres because Rheims Cathedral, the traditional venue for royal coronations, was still in the hands of the Catholic League. After the ceremony, he demonstrated his sacred powers by touching people for scrofula, the king's evil.Mousnier, 112–13. Finally, on 12 July 1595, Pope Clement VIII agreed to lift Henry's excommunication, and he pronounced the absolution on 17 September.Mousnier, 114. For the first time, he gave Henry the title of "most Christian King of France and Navarre".Mousnier, 115.
