The music was written in collaboration with Victor Rifaut, who had won the Prix de Rome in 1821, two years after Halévy himself.

A review of the original production in the English music journal The Harmonicon noted that the opera: can boast of a number of pieces of interest, particularly the introduction, a quartet, a trio, a chorus of prisoners, and a delightful duet, excellently given by Ferréol and Mademoiselle Pradher.

[1] Henri IV seeks to capture Paris without resort to battle.

In disguise as a Parisian soldier, he gets the oarsman Claude to ferry him across the river Seine.

Pretending to smuggle supplies into the besieged city, the 'soldier' leads a convoy which in fact contains his army; Paris is thus taken peacefully and the citizens rejoice at the success of the King.