Francis, Duke of Guise

Francis, 2nd Duke of Guise (February 17, 1519 - February 24, 1563) was a French soldier and politician.

Guise was the son of Claude 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.

In 1552 he successfully defended the city of Metz from the forces of Emperor Charles V, and captured Calais from the English in 1558. Along with his brother Charles of Guise he was powerful in the government of France during the reign of Francis II.

The siege of Metz is detailed well in Ambroise Pare's "Journey in Diverse Places" (written around 1580).

Guise was one of the leaders of the Catholic faction in the French Wars of Religion, and his massacre of Huguenots at Wassy-sur-Blaise on March 1, 1562 marked the starting point of that conflict.

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.

He was the father of Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne and was succeeded by his eldest son, Henry I of Guise.

See also