HEROES & LEADERS

FRANCIS DE LORRAINE DUKE OF GUISE

1519-1563 VALOIS/ROMAN CATHOLIC

Francis was a fervent Catholic and an important military figure. He had served at Boulogne in 1545 and, in 1551 was made Grand Chamberlain of France winning battles against the Holy Roman Emperor and the English. He became a military hero especially after capturing Calais from the English in 1558.

Guise opposed the conciliatory policies of Catherine de Medici towards the Huguenots, and, together with powerful allies, he sought to strengthen the Catholic cause. In 1562 Francis instigated a massacre of Huguenots at Vassy on 1 March. This event marked the beginning of the French Wars of Religion and ignited the religious