Charles, Duke of Guise

Portrait of Charles, Duke of Guise, by Justus Sustermans

The naval battle in front of Ile de Ré in 1622, in which the fleet of La Rochelle was defeated against Charles, Duke of Guise.

Charles de Lorraine, 4th Duke of Guise (August 2, 1571 – September 30, 1640) was the son of Henry I, Duke of Guise and Catherine of Cleves.

Biography

He was born in Joinville, (Haute-Marne department), in the Champagne-Ardenne region of northeastern France. Originally styled the Chevalier de Guise, he succeeded as Duke of Chevreuse upon the death of his great-uncle Charles of Guise, Cardinal of Lorraine, a title he later resigned to his brother Claude.

After his father's assassination in 1588, he succeeded him as Duke of Guise, but was kept in prison in Tours for three years, escaping in 1591. While the Catholic League had great hopes for him, and considered placing him on the throne, he declared his support for Henry IV of France in 1594, for which Henry paid him four million livres and made him Governor of Provence. In 1595, he captured Marseille from the Duc d'Épernon, who held it for the League.

He was later created Grand Master of France and Admiral of the Levant.

Falling into disfavor with Cardinal Richelieu for siding with Marie de' Medici, he withdrew to Italy in 1631. His wife and younger children joined him in Florence, where the family was protected by the House of Medici. His sons François and Charles Louis died in Italy during these years of exile. Duke Charles himself died, at Cuneo, in 1640. His widow and children (among them Marie, "Mademoiselle de Guise" were permitted to return to France in 1643.

Family

On January 6, 1611, he married Henriette Catherine of Joyeuse (January 8, 1585 – February 25, 1656), and they had seven children:

• François (April 3, 1612 – December 7, 1639), Prince of Joinville, who died in Florence during the family's exile and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo and later reinterred at Joinville. He was deemed "the most accomplished prince of his day."
• Henry II, Duke of Guise (1614–1664), also Archbishop of Reims
• Marie, Duchess of Guise (1615–1688)
• Charles Louis (July 15, 1618 – March 15, 1637, who also died in Florence) and was buried at San Lorenzo and later at Joinville, styled Duke of Joyeuse
• Françoise Renée (January 10, 1621 – December 4, 1682, Montmartre), Abbess of Montmartre
• Louis, Duke of Joyeuse (1622–1664), also Duke of Angoulême
• Roger (March 21, 1624 – died September 9, 1653) called the Chevalier de Joinville and later the Chevalier de Guise, Knight of the Order of Malta, died of fever at Cambrai and buried near his ancestors at Joinville.

Ancestry

Preceded by Charles I	Duke of Chevreuse 1574–1606	Succeeded by Claude
Preceded by Henry I	Duke of Guise Prince of Joinville Count of Eu 1588–1640	Succeeded by Henry II
Preceded by Henriette Catherine	Duke of Joyeuse with Henriette Catherine 1611–1640	Succeeded by Louis

Persondata
Name	Guise, Charles, Duke of
Alternative names
Short description	Duke of Guise
Date of birth	1571
Place of birth
Date of death	1640
Place of death