Guise

Home > People > History > French History: Biographies

Guise , influential ducal family of France.

The First Duke of Guise

The family was founded as a cadet branch of the ruling house of Lorraine by Claude de Lorraine, 1st duc de Guise, 1496-1550, who received the French fiefs of his father, René II, duke of Lorraine and Bar. In 1513 Claude connected himself by marriage with the French royal family. He fought in the Italian Wars under King Francis I and was wounded (1515) at Marignano; as governor of Champagne he fought successfully against the English and the imperial troops. He was created a duke and peer by Francis I, who, however, ultimately came to regard him with distrust. Claude's daughter, Mary of Guise , married King James V of Scotland and was the mother of Mary Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart).

The Second Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine

Claude's son François de Lorraine, 2d duc de Guise, 1519-63, became conspicuous, at the accession (1547) of Henry II, as the rival for power of Anne, duc de Montmorency . In the final stages of the Italian Wars, François distinguished himself in the defense of Metz (1552), led the expedition to Italy against King Philip II of Spain, and after the failure of the expedition returned to defend France from English and Spanish attacks; in 1558 he took Calais from the English. With the accession (1559) of the youthful Francis II, who was married to the duke's niece, Mary Stuart, François de Guise and his brother the Charles de Guise, Cardinal de Lorraine, c.1525-1574, were given control of the government.

The brothers' arrogance, their persecution of the Protestants, and their enmity toward the princes of Bourbon and Condé led to the conspiracy of Amboise (see Amboise, conspiracy of ), which they suppressed (1560). Shortly afterward, however, the death of Francis II deprived the Guises of power; Catherine de' Medici , as regent, dominated the government. As a result, in 1561 the duke joined with Montmorency and Marshal Saint-André in the so-called triumvirate, which, at the head of the Catholic party, opposed both the Huguenots and the tolerant policy of the regent. The murder of Protestants at Vassy by Guise's troops brought about the outbreak of the Wars of Religion (1562-98; see Religion, Wars of ), and Guise took the field against the Huguenots. Victorious at Dreux (1562), he was assassinated while preparing to attack Orléans.

The Cardinal de Lorraine was largely responsible for the persecution of the Protestants during the reign of Francis II. At the Colloquy of Poissy (1561) he defended Catholicism against Theodore Beza ; at the Council of Trent (1562-63) he at first upheld the independence of the Gallican church but later reversed his position and attempted to have the decrees of the council proclaimed in France. He subsequently negotiated with Philip II of Spain for Spanish support of the Catholic cause in France. After the downfall of Michel de L'Hôpital , Charles temporarily returned to power until 1570. He was the most consummate politician in his family and a master of intrigue.

The Third Duke of Guise

Charles's nephew Henri de Lorraine, 3d duc de Guise, 1550-88, son of François, fought in the Wars of Religion and cooperated with Catherine de' Medici in planning the massacre of the Huguenots on Aug. 24, 1572 (see Saint Bartholomew's Day, massacre of ). After the peace of 1576 he formed the Catholic League (see League ), and King Henry III, although secretly afraid of the League, became its nominal head. After the death of Francis , duke of Alençon and Anjou (1584), Henri de Lorraine revived (1585) the League in opposition to the Protestant Henry of Navarre (later King Henry IV ), who had become heir presumptive to the throne.

War broke out between the League and Henry of Navarre. Although the king was the nominal head of the League, he was overshadowed by the immensely popular de Guise, who had designs on the throne. In May, 1588, when de Guise returned to Paris, the Parisians revolted against the king on the Day of the Barricades (May 12). However, instead of taking the throne Guise permitted Henry III to escape, and the king named him lieutenant general of France. Later in the same year, however, the king brought about his assassination.

Other Members of the Guise Family

Henri's brother Louis de Lorraine, Cardinal de Guise, 1555-88, was killed at the same time as Henri. After their deaths the leadership of the League devolved upon their brother, Charles, duc de Mayenne . Henri was succeeded by his son Charles de Lorraine, 4th duc de Guise, 1571-1640.

Henri de Lorraine, 5th duc de Guise, 1614-64, son of the 4th duke, was archbishop of Reims but became duke after the death of his older brother (1639) and of his father. He conspired (1641) against Cardinal Richelieu and was forced to live in exile for a time in Flanders. In 1647 he took part, as representative of the house of Anjou, in the insurrection at Naples against Spanish rule. Captured by the Spanish (1648), he was a prisoner until 1652. He made a new attack on Naples in 1654, then returned to Paris, where, as grand chamberlain, he played a prominent role in the social life of the court. He was succeeded by his nephew, Louis Joseph de Lorraine, 6th duc de Guise, 1650-71. With François Joseph de Lorraine, 7th duc de Guise, 1670-75, son of the 6th duke, the line came to an end.

Bibliography

See H. N. Williams, The Brood of False Lorraine (1918); H. D. Sedgwick, The House of Guise (1938).

Guise A branch of the ducal house of Lorraine that rose to prominence in 16th-century France. Claude de Lorraine (1496–1550) was created duke in 1528; he had distinguished himself in a number of French military victories, including Marignano (1515). Francis (1519–63), his son and heir, became the most effective commander in the armies of Henry II. He was active throughout the 1550s, capturing Calais from the English (1558) and helping to bring about the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis in 1559. His brother Charles (1524–74) became Cardinal of Lorraine in 1550, and his sister Mary (1515–60) married James V of Scotland and was the mother of MARY, Queen of Scots.

In 1559, on the accession of Francis II, the Catholic Guise family was the most influential in France. Its dealings with the HUGUENOTS and BOURBONS (1559–62) led directly to the outbreak of the FRENCH WARS OF RELIGION. Francis was assassinated in 1563. His son Henry (1550–88), the third duke, fought in the third and fourth wars, and was one of the instigators of the ST BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY MASSACRE. In 1576 he took the lead in organizing the Holy League, but Henry III had him assassinated in 1588, when he was being put forward as a possible heir to the throne. His brother, Charles (1554–1611), kept the Guise and extremist Catholic causes alive until 1595, when he submitted to HENRY IV. The Guise ducal line died out in 1688.

guise / gīz/ • n. an external form, appearance, or manner of presentation, typically concealing the true nature of something: he visited in the guise of an inspector | telemarketing and selling under the guise of market research.

guise style, fashion. XIII. — (O)F. :- Rom. *wīsa — Gmc. *wīsōn WISE1. Cf. DISGUISE.

guise •advise, apprise, apprize, arise, assize, capsize, chastise, comprise, demise, despise, devise, downsize, excise, flies, guise, incise, low-rise, misprize, outsize, previse, prise, prize, remise, revise, rise, size, surmise, surprise, uprise, wise •archaize • heroize • ghettoize •Judaize • bye-byes • disenfranchise •propagandize • periodize • iodize •merchandise • melodize •gourmandize • methodize •anthropomorphize • apostrophize •elegize • analogize • syllogize •anthologize, mythologize, psychologize, tautologize, theologize •hierarchize