One of the leaders of the Catholic League, he was at times governor of Picardy and Grand Veneur of France. He led a rebellion in Picardy in 1587, a prelude to open war between the House of Guise and Henry III of France. He was defeated at the Battle of Senlis on 17 May 1589 by the allied forces of Henry III and Henry of Navarre. Captured by Henry of Navarre at the Battle of Ivry, he died in exile.