Francis, Duke of Guise

Francis, 2nd Duke of Guise (February 17, 1519, Château Bar-le-Duc – February 24, 1563, Château Corney), called Balafré "the scarred", was a French soldier and politician.

Related Topics:
February 17 - 1519 - Château - Bar-le-Duc - February 24 - 1563 - French

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Guise was the son of Claude, Duke of Guise and his wife Antoinette of Bourbon. His sister Mary of Guise was wife of James V of Scotland and mother of Mary I of Scotland.

Related Topics:
Claude, Duke of Guise - Mary of Guise - James V of Scotland - Mary I of Scotland

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In 1545, he gained his nickname through a wound sustained at the siege of Boulogne. In 1551, he was created Grand Chamberlain of France. He won international renown in 1552 when he successfully defended the city of Metz from the forces of Emperor Charles V, and defeated the imperial troops again at the Battle of Renty in 1554. The siege of Metz is detailed well in Ambroise Paré's "Journey in Diverse Places" (written around 1580). He was created Grand Veneur of France in 1556, but the Truce of Vaucelles temporarily curtailed his military activity.

Related Topics:
1545 - Boulogne - 1551 - Chamberlain - 1552 - Metz - Emperor Charles V - Battle of Renty - 1554 - Ambroise Paré - 1580 - Grand Veneur of France - 1556 - Truce of Vaucelles

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He led an army into Italy in 1557 to aid Pope Paul IV (and probably to further his family's pretensions to the Angevin inheritance), but was recalled to France and made Lieutenant-General of France after the defeat of the Constable de Montmorency at the Battle of St. Quentin. Taking the field, he captured Calais from the English in January 1558, Thionville and Arlon that summer, and was preparing to advance into Luxemburg when the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis was signed.

Related Topics:
Italy - 1557 - Pope Paul IV - His family - Angevin - Lieutenant-General - France - Constable de Montmorency - Battle of St. Quentin - Calais - English - 1558 - Thionville - Arlon - Luxemburg - Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis

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The accession of Francis II in 1559 brought about a great rise in his fortunes. He replaced Montmorency as Grand Master of France, and both he and his brother Charles of Guise became immensely influential. The Conspiracy of Amboise against them in 1560 only increased his power, but the death of Francis at the end of the year threw matters into confusion.

Related Topics:
Francis II - 1559 - Grand Master of France - Charles of Guise - Conspiracy of Amboise - 1560

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The attempts of Catherine de Medici to make common cause with the Huguenots to balance the Guises set the stage for the French Wars of Religion. Guise was one of the leaders of the Catholic faction, and his massacre of Huguenots at Wassy-sur-Blaise on March 1, 1562 marked the starting point of that conflict.

Related Topics:
Catherine de Medici - Huguenot - French Wars of Religion - Wassy - March 1 - 1562

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He was shot by a Huguenot fanatic at the siege of Orléans on February 18, 1563 and died of his wounds a few days later.

Related Topics:
Orléans - February 18 - 1563

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He married in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on April 29, 1548 Anna d'Este, the daughter of Ercole d'Este II, Duke of Ferrara, by whom he had seven children:

Related Topics:
Saint-Germain-en-Laye - April 29 - 1548 - Ercole d'Este II - Ferrara

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• Henry I, Duke of Guise (1550–1588), who succeeded him as Duke of Guise.
• Catherine (July 18, 1552, Joinville – May 6, 1596, Paris), married on February 4, 1570 Louis II, Duke of Montpensier
• Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne (1554–1611)
• Louis II, Cardinal of Guise (1555–1588), Archbishop of Reims
• Antoine (April 25, 1557 – January 16, 1560)
• François (December 31, 1559, Blois – October 24, 1573, Reims)
• Maximilien (October 25, 1562 – 1567)
 
Francis, Duke of Guise: See also ►