Charles
Duke of Guise
Tenure23 December 1588 – 30 September 1640
PredecessorHenry I
SuccessorHenry II
Born20 August 1571
Joinville
Died30 September 1640
Cuna
SpouseHenriette Catherine of Joyeuse
Issue
HouseGuise
FatherHenry I, Duke of Guise
MotherCatherine of Cleves
Portrait of Charles, Duke of Guise, by Justus Sustermans
The naval battle in front of Île 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 and 3rd Prince of Joinville (20 August 1571 – 30 September 1640), was the son of Henry I, Duke of Guise and Catherine of Cleves, and succeeded his father as Duke of Guise in 1588. Initially part of the Catholic league, he pledged his support for Henry IV of France and was made Admiral of the Levant by Louis XIII of France. After siding with the Queen Mother, Marie de' Medici, against Cardinal Richelieu, he fled to Italy with his family where he died in 1640.

Biography

He was born in Joinville, the son of Henry I, Duke of Guise and Catherine of Cleves.[1] 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, Charles succeeded him as Duke of Guise, but was kept in prison in Tours for three years, escaping in 1591.[2] 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,[3] for which Henry paid him four million livres and made him Governor of Provence.[4] On 17 February 1596, Charles captured Marseille from the League,[5] restoring it to the French crown.[6]

During the reign of Louis XIII, Charles was created Grand Master of France and Admiral of the Levant.[7]

Falling into disfavor with Cardinal Richelieu for siding with Marie de' Medici, he withdrew to Italy in 1631.[8] 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 in Cuna in 1640. His widow and children (among them Marie, Mademoiselle de Guise) were permitted to return to France in 1643.

Family

On 6 January 1611 he married Henriette Catherine of Joyeuse (8 January 1585 – 25 February 1656).[9] They had:

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ Collins 2017, p. 121.
  2. ^ Bernstein 2004, p. 241.
  3. ^ Tenace 2012, p. 305.
  4. ^ Kettering 1986, p. 151.
  5. ^ Schalk 2001, p. 286.
  6. ^ Schalk 2001, p. 289.
  7. ^ Schalk 2001, p. 298.
  8. ^ a b Munns, Richards & Spangler 2015, p. 135.
  9. ^ Munns, Richards & Spangler 2015, p. xiv.
  10. ^ a b Munns, Richards & Spangler 2015, p. 87.
  11. ^ a b c Spangler 2016, p. 272.

Sources


French nobility Preceded byCharles I Duke of Chevreuse 1574–1606 Succeeded byClaude Preceded byHenry I Duke of GuisePrince of JoinvilleCount of Eu 1588–1640 Succeeded byHenry II Preceded byHenriette Catherine Duke of Joyeusewith Henriette Catherine 1611–1640 Succeeded byLouis