Henri II de Lorraine

## Monseigneur le Duc de Guise

Secrétaire privé de l'Empereur [1649 - 1651]

Enfant d'Honneur de Henri III & I

### Romantic Interests

Henriette Louise de Rochechouart, Duchesse de Joyeuse Élisabeth Gabrielle de Stuart de Moray, Princesse de Sedan

Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency-Fosseux, Marquise de Mortemart

Jeanne Françoise Louise de Rochechouart, Duchesse de Damville

### Issue

Marie Henriette Delphine, Mademoiselle de GuiseFrançoise Louise Colette, Mademoiselle de Léon

Henri Auguste Marie, Duc de Penthièvre

Charles Étienne Philippe Cesar, Prince de Léon

Louise Charlotte Dominique Therese, Mademoiselle de Nomeny

### Siblings

Louise Geneviève de Lorraine-Guise, Abbesse de RemiremontFrançois de Lorraine-Guise, Comte de Soissons †

Charles de Lorraine-Guise, Comte de Soissons †

Antoinette de Lorraine-Guise, Mademoiselle Château-Renault †

Elisabeth Christine de Lorraine-Guise, Duchesse D. de Retz

Charles-Alexandre de Lorraine-Guise, Marquis de Nomeny †

Claude de Lorraine-Guise, Duc de Mercœur

Marie Louise Élisabeth de Lorraine-Guise, Grande Princesse de Toscane

Henri-François de Lorraine-Guise, Comte de Roucy

### Religion

Roman Catholicism

**Henri II Nicolas Marie de Lorraine-Guise** (3rd March 1633 - Present*)* was a Grandelumierian nobleman, courtier, prince, peer and statesman hailing from the prominent Maison de Lorraine-Guise, the senior cadet branch of the sovereign house of Lorraine present at court. The fifth of 10 Children, Henri would surpass his siblings on the death of his two older brothers and attain the style of *Comte de Soissons* as heir to the *Duc de Guise* until ascending to the title in 1660*.* A dedicated member of his senior cousin's retinue, he would begin his service as an *enfant d'honneur* at the age of seven until his presentation to court, wherein he would assume the posts of private secretary to the Emperor and Master of the Palace, the dedicated successor to the Grand Master of the Empire; following the incapacitation of his father, Henri would assume his household station and bring with him extensive reforms. His service during the Portuguese Revolt would gain him a reputation as an effective, albeit timorous, commander with several strategic actions attributed to his command. As a member of the Lorraine Dynasty and the princely house of Lorraine-Guise, Henri is by-birth a *prince du sang* whilst also a *Pair de Grandelumière* through his inheritance of the Lorraine-Guise estate; as the senior-most prince of the blood at the time of accession, he would be considered the *premier prince du sang* for the duration of his life.

Differing greatly from his domineeringly devout and laddish ancestors, the highly effeminate prince would make a name for himself for his flamboyant and progressive personality as well as his gentle and amicable demeanor; such behavior would gain him the nickname *Le Prince des Fleurs*, which he would embrace in his youth. Despite what one would perceive as a bundle of weakness, Henri would possess great strength in his decisions and would forge himself a secure place as one of the foremost courtiers under Henri III & I in a way which was contrary to the path of intrigue his ancestors took despite a series of scandals attributed to his juvenile indifference. Aside from his station as a dedicated courtier, Henri would find time in his freedom to pursue his interests in botany and the maintenance of extended correspondence.

## Early Life

### Infancy

In the early morning hours of the 3rd of March, 1633, following prolonged hours of labor, the young *Comte de Soissons* would be borne at the Hotel de Guise to François II de Lorraine, then the *Duc de Penthievre*, and his wife Marie de Joyeuse. Despite being the fifth child of the pair, his birth would be met with great fanfare amongst the Lorraine and Guise Families as the young prince would finally carry an heir. Such celebration, however, would grow to be incredibly wary as Henri fell gravely ill with whooping cough.

Despite recovering, the Comte would continue to have a childhood of grave periodic illness and would as such be coddled by the Guise family; such treatment would likely have been the basis for his effeminate development. Shortly after his recovery, the young boy would be baptized at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris by his uncle as Henri Nicolas Marie de Lorraine-Guise, his god-parents being Nicole de Lorraine and Charles X & II. For the duration of his childhood, Henri would be raised at the family estate at Joinville, wherein he'd be subject to various forms of enrichment and preparation.

### Education

At his father's behest, Henri would be subject to extensive tutoring beginning from an early age in order to prepare him for his upcoming roles. Despite having the capability to complete them, he generally would shrug off studies in favor of engaging in petty mischief and goofery; this behavior would continue through to his departure for Paris to serve as an *enfant d'honneur* to the young Henri III & I at the age of seven.

He would continue his education under the *Comte de Clermont* and his retinue of tutors alongside the imperial family; during this time the growing prince would become enthralled with the life of court and Paris. Under Clermont's care, Henri's intellect would come to note especially in the fields of statesmanship, stewardship, languages and the histories; despite holding a skill in martial studies he would not be particularly enthralled. Straying from the cult of personality developed around his ancestors, he'd develop a reputation as a gregarious and progressive individual with a taste for excess and vanity over piety and modesty; this would make him a popular figure amongst the less conservative members of court and allow him to become close with many influential individuals.

His effeminacy, although likely having originated earlier, became most known during this period as he would stray from en vogue fashion in favor of lighter colors and excessive vanity in taste; notably he would hold an adoration for floral designs and the color pink. His behaviors, although not encouraged by his family, would be received quite well by some of his closer friends, in particular the *Madame Imperiale*.

### Betrothal to the Mademoiselle de Tonnerre

From the time he was presented to serve under His Majesty, Henri's future was often of great interest to courtiers ranging from the aspirational to the influential and would lead to a series of made and broken betrothals; notably, for a time, there existed an engagement between the Comte de Soissons and Marguerite Constance de Valois, second daughter to the *Monsieur*, until it was broken off in favor of pursuing courtly interests. His final match, however, would be made with the eldest daughter of the *Connétable de Clermont*, Marie Hélène de Clermont-Tonnerre. Marie de Clermont, as she was known, was born between the union of two of the Empire's oldest houses, Rochechouart and Clermont, and carry with her a prestige not normally afforded to comital offspring. Although an easily distracted individual, especially when it came to the company of women, from the start Hélène would command his attention and affection in a way which formulated a strong pairing; their relationship notably would have been close from early on, with the two hitting it off at first interaction.

## Court of Henri III & I

### Formal Presentation to Court

Despite serving as an enfant since the age of seven, Henri would not receive a formal presentation to the court until following the coronation of the Emperor. With his father acting as his sponsor, the young prince would be received in a grand ceremony in January of 1650; he'd be elegantly clad in a subtle suit of pink with accents of gold and several emeralds set upon gold attached, his shoulder adorned by a matching pink cape with an ermine trim. This reception would be followed by a formal ball at the *Hotel de Guise*, during which he'd sojourn with a set of friends to a private salon to host themselves.

As the groomed successor to the post of Grand Master of the Empire, Henri would take a central position in court affairs from the very start; as a birthday present he would receive appointment to the Private Secretary to the Emperor in which he would oversee the personnel of the *Cabinet de l'Empereur* and carry out associated duties. Following the incapacitation of his father, he would assume his courtly duties through this position and act as his personal representative. During this time, the young prince would also take his first romantic endeavor with the niece of the Chancellor; this would ultimately come to an end following a feud fueled by a dalliance with the *Duc de Montmorency* during their relationship, also sparking a rivalry between the two cousins. He later would grow close to the then-*Demoiselle de Couches*, Henriette Louise de Rochechouart who resided alongside her father in her father's service; the two would find themselves in a platonic (if not romantic) relationship from 1652, ultimately consummating it some time later. Henriette would remain Henri's *favourite* for the duration of his life, even with the conclusion of their affair.

Upon the death of his grandmother, the last of the Lorraine-Mercœur dynasty, Henri would receive the the duchy of Mercœur and the assorted lands which she held as a basis for his upcoming marriage.

### Marriage to Helene de Clermont

On the 17th of January 1651, set before the stark crimson and gold fabric draped cathedral of Our Lady of Reims, the 17 year-old Henri would be wed to the *Mademoiselle de Tonnerre* Helene de Clermont in a grand ceremony with both the entirety of the Imperial and Lorraine Families present alongside their respective court. Ever the fashion icons of the court, he would coordinate the two to wear a matching ensemble representative of the Lorraine dynasty; a pattern of lapis and gold pieces would be set into a crimson hex pattern with accents of beige fleur de lis on their undergarments; she also would bear a string of several pearls wrapped in gold before her torso. In commemoration of the union, she would bear a necklace of gold and lapis pieces based in design off Catherine of Cleve's "Great H" piece with the center-piece being a fifty carat diamond. The Duc would present his wife formally to the court of the Louvre at their wedding reception as the *Duchesse de Mercœur* and *Comtesse de Soissons*, where she would be received as a member of the extended imperial family given her place as a princess of the blood.

The two, although nervous, would make no hesitation in consummating their union on their wedding and Marie would fall pregnant shortly after. With hopes for the blessing of their union, the two would embark on a pilgrimage wherein they would sojourn to Cologne, Reims and Rome. With their arrival to Rome, the two would take residence for the coming months at the Palazzo Mancini with the family of the Duc's uncle; tragedy would strike, however, in April as Marie would nearly perish miscarrying their first child upon the near death of the two in a fire whilst attending to a salon. The two would return to the Louvre in a solemn mood, albeit stronger together.

Over the years of their marriage, it was clear that the two had grown to form the better half of each other and established a dependence on one another; the Duc would be publicly affectionate and caring for his wife, and similarly privately. Despite these shows of affection, the two would remain without a pregnancy for a good portion of almost four years; although never confirmed, it had been theorized the Duc was fearful of losing her to childbirth as what almost occurred in her initial pregnancy.

The two would finally be blessed in a child in what the Duc would call his second annus horribilis, the sickly Mademoiselle de Mercœur; despite her sex, he would be overjoyed with the birth. The incident, however, would carry various drawbacks in the marriage of the Duc and the Duchesse; she would begin showing symptoms of what would be known as bipolar disorder in the modern day, causing a strain not yet seen before between the two. Throughout their marriage, it was shown the two would have a varying relationship as the Duchesse became a figure of abuse towards the Duc; there were times when the two would get along, and in these times the relationship was one of passion, however there were equally times where great resentment was harbored between the two.

### Accession

Being both his annus horribilis and his annus mirabilis, 1651 would carry many tragedies for the young Henri. Following the miscarriage of his first child in April, the month of June would hold several deaths. The first death would be his mother on the 4th of June, whose death would cause him to inherit the county of Bouchage; this death would send him into a severe depression, wherein he would refuse to leave her apartments for a week. Days later on the 9th, Henri's two uncles the Chevalier de Guise and Prince de Joinville would pass away; whilst not emotionally impacted, their deaths would solidify his inheritance to the Lorraine-Mercœur estate and end a months long legal battle. The tragedy, however, would not end as soon came the death of Henri's dearest aunt Catherine, the Duchesse de Mayenne; this death would hit very close to his heart, given her position as a mother figure at times.

In January of 1655, the aging Duc de Guise would suffer a stroke in which he would become nearly incapacitated and his ability to function severely impacted. Due to this, he would retire his station at court to his eldest son; Henri would assume the office of Grand Master of the Empire on the 18th of June 1655. In the post of Grand Master, he would make no haste to leave a mark upon the household with extensive reforms to courtly procedure and positions; he notably would install his cousin the Duc de Joyeuse in the post of Master of the Palace, the number two position of the household, who would help carry out the monumental tasks required.

### The Hotel de Rambouillet

From a young age, Henri would be enthralled with the culture of Parisian hosting and obsess over creating a space in which he could host his own events. Of particular interest to him, the Hotel de Rambouillet in the Faubourg Saint Germain would be the target for his aspirations. His parents, given their relationship with the favorite child, would take notice of this and the property would be gifted to the young Duc on the day of his marriage as a home for the couple to sojourn to. The hotel, formerly home to the salons of the infamous Madame de Rambouillet, would have gone into disrepair over the three years and as such Henri would channel his interests in architecture to oversee the renovations of the property. Beginning in 1653, the facade of the property would receive an update to Baroque tastes and the interior updated to fit the Duc's tastes. With the completion coinciding with his appointment to the Grand Mastership, the property's marble ballroom would be the backdrop for a grand masquerade hosted in the Emperor's honor. Following this event, the hotel would play host to a variety of progressive (and at times libertine) salons commonly led by the Duc himself.

His taste for Parisian culture, however, would merely be teased by this and he soon would lust for involvement of any aspect of society he could. It was during this time he would first become involved with Élisabeth de Stuart, a common visitor to his salons affectionately known as "Aphrodite" amongst members of society, who would act as his guide to entering the society. Their relationship, however, would not remain platonic as the two would enter a romantic affair following the first masquerade at Rambouillet. Following the Duc's disgrace, however, the two would distance themselves from eachother until the affair was finally broken off.

For a period of three years, originating in his initial disgrace and ending with his restoration to the household, Henri's use of Rambouillet would dwindle to mere visits; arguably a reminder of his past, the Duc would instead choose to reside at the *Hotel de L'Imperatrice* in the Marais District whilst his brother the *Prince de Joinville* and his wife took up residence in the hotel. This period of disuse would come to an end following the Portuguese Revolt, as the Duc resumed his former salons albeit with a new cadre of visitors; amongst the more common visitors would be the *Duchesse de Joyeuse*, the *Marquise d'Orani*, the *Vicomtesse de Tallard* and the *Marquise de Mortemart*; the latter of whom would soon find their way into the Duc's bed, and remain a common visitor for a period of two years.

### Feud with the Cardinal de Guise

Throughout his young life, Henri would be at odds with his uncle stemming from a disdain for the man's behavior. This feud, however, would reach its toppling point in late January of 1655 following the return of the Cardinal from the Papal Conclave. During the extensive absence of the Cardinal, the Duc had moved his apartments to the lower floor of the Tuileries while transitioning his former apartment into the seat of his office as Grand Master. Immediately upon his return, the Cardinal would initiate a series of arguments with the Duc regarding it and would go so far as to publicly speak against his nephew regarding it. These arguments would, however, greatly ramp up with news the Cardinal had been involved in a "prank" which had caused the death of another of the conclave; out of stress from the various situations, the Duc would proceed to engage in various forms of snubbery ending with removing him from his apartments after a particularly heated argument. With this, the Cardinal would proceed to disrupt the Emperor's salon with accusations of his apartment being trashed by the boy and, after an inspection of the now empty apartments, lead the court in the storming of the Duc's apartments. The sight of the broken and sobbing young boy slumped in his seat, whose sole reprieve was the Princesse de Sedan offering him verbal consolation, would not garner pity and he would soon find himself cast out by both his and the Imperial family. Many courtiers would use the destabilized position to strike out at the Guise, culminating in the storming of his apartments by the Comte and Comtesse de Moray, the Duc de Bouillon, the Princesse de Raucourt and the Duchesse de Montmorency, all of whom would proceed to issue various threats to the prince. Now in disgrace, Henri would retreat to the Hôtel de Rambouillet, suffering a series of brutal beatings by the Cardinal which only ended with a string of apologies issued to the two families. Despite having lost the last shreds of dignity he had and the only ties which kept him going, he would remain vehemently loyal to his cousin and do everything within his power to prove himself worthy once more.

Despite the arrival of Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche coinciding with a period of great disgrace for him, Henri's relationship with the new Empress would start with a positive light. Given his mastering of the Castilian language alongside the other enfants, they commonly would converse in her native tongue during her early residency in France. Her arrival marked the return of the Duc to the good graces of the imperial family, and as such he would restore himself to his former position. Over time, Henri would continue to consolidate his courtly position by becoming an extension of the Crown's authority, commonly representing the will of the Emperor amongst courtiers

### Protestant Revolt in Scotland

With the coming of 1655, the constant unrest in Scotland continued to build up to a point of great concern which prompted the Emperor to lead the court to visit the savage lands and soon would set sail with a bulk of the empire's fleet. Docking at Edinburgh, the court would take up residence at the ancient Palace of Lithlingow alongside the Lords of Scotland. Within the first day, however, tension would would set in upon the courts as a cultural division became quite apparent; in particular, the difference between the stark Catholic Court of France and the mixed Protestant and Catholic Courts of Scotland would cause issue. Being raised in a household well known for a disposition against Protestants, the young Duc would create an enemy of the Scottish Lords within hours of his arrival when word was released he had referred to an Anglican bible possessed by the Duchess of Lennox as "heretical writings." Alongside the Duc de Montmorency and the Vicomte de Tallard, Henri would become a particular target at which the Protestants would strike. As the group had settled into their apartments, a mob of Scottish lords would storm the apartments which the Duc resided in and hold he, along with the two others and the Duc's valet the Monsieur Amboise, at sword-point under accusations of high treason; the Scottish peer the Earl of Crawford would notably use his arm to inflict a mark upon the Duc which would remain from that day forth. Having offered his rapier without issue, the Duc himself would soon fall victim to a series of vicious beatings by the Protestant Lords and a rogue member of the 1st Company of the Garde du Corps despite his willful surrender. The beatings would continue however as the group would be brought to the courtyard, wherein the Scottish High Chancellor, the infamous Protestant Lord Loudon, would force apologies out of the three and proceed to publicly humiliate them following; the humiliation and savage beatings would only end as the young boy collapsed in a forming puddle of his own blood, whimpering until his lost all consciousness. His attackers, however, would face no punishment and rather hold him responsible for the beatings, with the Scottish Parliament issuing a censure and humiliation order for him. Confined to bed-rest and fearing for his life, he would remain in critical condition throughout his stay and would beg for, and be permitted, permission to depart for Paris aboard *Le Guiseard*. Upon his return to Paris, Henri would be confined to the Hôtel de Rambouillet under a heavy guard provided by the Duc de Guise for a period of three weeks, only rejoining Parisian society with the return of the Emperor and even then in a weakened condition and with the assistance of a cane.

### Sponsorship of the English College at Reims and Pilgrimages to Liesse

Prompted largely by his despondent state, Henri would turn more and more to the consolation offered by the spirituality and goodwill which his dynasty was known for. Largely inspired by his namesake and advised by both the *Empress-Dowager* and the *Marquise de Rothelin*, he would lead great charitable ventures centered around serving those of similar faith. With a particular preference for the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Pres in Paris, he would offer great patronage to it and would commonly be seen attending to his faith in the grounds.

Over the years of 1656 and 1657, Mercœur would see himself traveling often to the English College at Reims, an institution sponsoring the vast swathes of English Catholic refugees founded by the *Cardinal de Lorraine*. With these visits, the Duc would grow personally attached to the plight of those affected and learn of the growing needs of the college, prompting a desire for action. Leading a combined effort using resources of his own alongside those of the *Cardinal de Guise, Duc d'Aumale* and *Comte de Rieux*, he would oversee the expansion of the institution and the renovation of existing structures. A visit by the princes of the blood, who would be joined by the Empress-Dowager, would see an expanded college and a growing resurgence in popularity of the Guise in Reims.

The return to tradition, however, would not end with the presence in Reims. Inspired by the pilgrimages of *Henri de Guise* and *Catherine de Cleves* to *Notre Dame de Liesse*, the Duc would, alongside his father, offer finances to the less fortunate who sought to sojourn to the great holy site. With the increased numbers of visitors however, an issue of accommodations would grow and Henri would finance the construction of a new pilgrimage shelter at Liesse where pilgrims from all walks of life could find refuge in their travels; this project, visited by the Guise during their own pilgrimage, would be completed in time for the Lent of 1658.

### Service in Portugal

With the passing years, instability in the Iberian Peninsula would grow to the point of rebellion; as the Portuguese took up arms against the Spanish, Grandelumiere was called forth to aide and assist in the the quashing of the insurrection. No sooner than the Guise concluded their pilgrimage had orders been received for the Regiment de Guise to mobilize and travel to the Peninsula. Due to his father's incapacitation, Henri would be assigned as the regiment's sergeant- major and, alongside the present command, assume a leadership role within the organization. In February of 1658, the Duc would be seen off by his family in a small ceremony at the Hôtel de Guise; notably, his wife would find herself absent. Traveling alongside his father's regiment, he would find security in his cousin the *Duc d'Aumale* and would be seen by his side for the majority of the campaign.

Come his arrival in Spain, the persistent issue of Henri's nerves would be ever highlighted as he grew to be surrounded by death and despair. To escape this, he would come to pursue and maintain various series of correspondence; his most extensive of the series would be that with the Vicomtesse de Léran, a lady-in-waiting to the Duc's cousin, and the infamous Spanish expat María Cayetana de Tovar y Paz. During this time, he would begin to explore the effects of different tinctures to relieve his ailments; ultimately, the new mixture known as laudanum would prove most beneficial.

Besieging Elvas under his father-in-law on his 25th Birthday, Henri would assume immediate command over the *Regiment de Guise* and as such be among the present commanders during the arrival of the Portuguese relief army. Albeit with little battlefield experience and a nature of timidness, he would prove to show some competence and steadfastness in command despite the odds. Initially stationed in defense of southern artillery positions, the regiment would be recalled to the center upon the siege of Murtais; following the attack of the *Regiment de Champdenier* and the northern artillery positions, the Duc would lead his regiment to aid the overwhelmed forces. Taking a defensive position and striking the Portuguese flank, the regiment's employment of the rotational relief tactic would allow the *Regiment de Champdenier* to push back the fighting force and for the *Regiment de Guise* to repel three relief regiments. Having reinforced Champdenier's position, Henri would recall his regiment to the center to replenish their supply; this reprieve would be cut short however, with orders issued to push upon the Portuguese encampment to the north. Under heavy artillery fire and with little relief, the regiment would push forth to hold an hours long standstill with Portuguese forces, with a series of volleys exchanged between the two lines; despite consolidating a position where artillery fire was of little detriment, the forces would be unable to push into the superior numbers of the Portuguese. Henri, understanding primarily the strategies of defensive operations, would find himself struggling to act as an offensive force and would rely primarily on his childhood friend and fellow officer *Alexandre du Han, Comte de Martigny*; the officer however would fall victim to artillery fire, and perish in Henri's arms. Trapped without possibility to retreat and running low on ammunition, the *Regiment de Guise* would begin to reach a breaking point as their morale crippled until relief was offered in the form of reinforcement by the *Regiments de Champdenier et Clermont*, directed by the *Vicomte de Tallard*. With the assistance of the Vicomte, as well as the direction of Saint-Aubin's cavalry against the Portuguese artillery, the three regiments were able to overcome and encircle the remaining Portuguese forces. The Duc, having helped lead the capture of the Portuguese encampment, would return to the allied encampment triumphantly displaying the sashes of five Portuguese officers upon his horse and carrying three regimental banners.

Marching to lay siege upon the city of Évora, the regiments under the *Connètable de Clermont* would come to a halt as Portuguese forces launched an offensive against the encamped forces. Being crippled from the siege of Elvas, the *Regiment de Guise* was initially attached to the equally crippled *Regiment de Champdenier*, providing support on the right flanks. In time, Henri would lead his men to support the cavalry under Clermont; taking a flanking position, they would push against advancing infantry forces and repel the Portuguese cavalry. With the flanks of the Portuguese forces routing, the *Regiment de Guise* would proceed to push into the enemy's artillery encampment from the rear and overrun the present companies; in doing so, they would capture the encampment and close off the final route of Portuguese retreat. Returning to camp having captured the Portuguese flag and twelve Portuguese officers, Henri would find himself quickly diminished of his joy upon hearing news of the death of his great-aunt and close friend the *Marquise de Rothelin*. Further tragedy would strike during the siege of Braga in which, whilst attached to the *Regiment de Mayenne*, Henri would witness the death of his uncle the *Duc de Mayenne* at the hands of a Portuguese general who was struck down in the same moment.

With forces at Satarem, the Duc would be among the injured following the crippling defeat; he would find himself with a fractured arm and suffering from a shaken brain, and therefore unable to participate in further battles. For the duration of the war, the Duc would command his regiment from his bed whilst his cousin, the new *Duc de Mayenne*, exercised oversight of it in his stead. Upon his return, Henri's service would see him restored to the station of Grand Master and instilled with a new sense of prestige.

### Inheritance of the Guise Estate

In March of 1660, tragedy would strike the Lorraine-Guise as Henri's father suffered what would be his fifth and final stroke; convulsing to the very end, François II died at midnight of the 22nd of March, with his son being proclaimed Henri II the next morning. Despite the despair dragging upon him, the now-*Duc de Guise* would return to court immediately that morning and officially swear his oaths to undertake his father's offices; his steadfastness would prove to be fueled in part by the laudanum the boy took, which proved to numb his feelings and emotions. His position at court would grow to solidify, despite his loss of two offices on the account of age, and upon being welcomed back would assume the responsibility in such duties. Shortly after his inheritance, however, Henri would fall victim to what would be an arsenic poisoning attempt; although surviving, he would remain bound to his bed with sickness over the following weeks. During this time, a clear feud would develop between he and the Cardinal de Clermont incited by the latter's public denouncement of the former within the Hotel de l'Imperatrice.

Of the many projects which the Duc would inherit, the one which would receive the majority of his attention would be the renovation of the *Chateau de Meudon*; with renovations began under his father in 1648, the residence saw an increase in standards as time went on and by Henri's inheritance it would rival any residence in France. Seeing the potential of the residence, particularly so with its close proximity to Vaucresson, Henri would commission the addition of a new residence; named le Chateau-Neuf, the residence's construction would begin in summer of 1660 and continue on for several years.

During this time, Henri's extensive affair with the *Marquise de Mortemart* would come to an end and soon after his relationship with the *Duchesse de Damville* would grow to be an open secret. Known to have began as a platonic bond, the two's affair would have been quietly consummated and with it a child was born; despite the parentage, the *Mademoiselle d'Ostremont* would be publicly known as the child of the *Duc de Damville.*

## Personality & Appearance

### Personality

A progressive figure amongst the culturally strong Lorraine, Henri would be genuinely kind to those around him, actively practicing gregarious habits. He'd particularly enjoy hosting a salon amongst his close friends, its backdrop being the grand Hotel de Rambouillet. While not being exactly studious, he was able to hold conversation for extended periods on topics of varying degrees. A born courtier, Henri would be enthralled by the life of the court and would strive to be as involved in court ceremony as he could. Whilst not known for being particularly virile, he would have moments in which his authoritative nature triumphed and he was able to instill himself near the forefront of a scenario.

Known for being particular effeminate, Henri would be quite popular amongst the women of court from the start; he generally would prefer the ever-present female company over the typical homosocial settings. Much unlike his father, the prince would remain a strong presence for himself throughout all and as such would very rarely be (publicly) unmoved by criticism. Despite, however, his aforementioned emotional strength he would at heart remain emotionally troubled to the point of near-depression, and be easily subject to manipulation by those close to him; his sole reprieve from court would be his close friendship with the *Madame Imperiale*, with whom he would maintain a mutual confidanteship until the forced separation of the two.

Although not particularly gluttonous, Henri did have an adoration for the finer things in life and as such would maintain abhorrent spending habits. He'd also take up several costly hobbies, most notably design and architecture alongside the *Madame Imperiale* and Henri III & I respectively. Given his roots, it would be no surprise hat in addition to his spending upon himself, he would be naturally giving and enjoy showering his close friends in gifts.

### Appearance

Despite a sickly childhood which would continue to put him in a physically weaker state, Henri in his adolescence grew to be a relatively beautiful man. Known for a strong Roman nose and a rosy complexion, his firm build and imposing height would lead to the boy being popular amongst the women of court. Of all the things which could distinguish him from other courtiers, his eyes would be a striking deep blue comparable to a dark lapis with paled offtones replicating the famous stone whilst his hair, albeit brown would be to such a dark degree that it often was portrayed as black. If one trait, however, would betray him it would be his style of speech; he would possess a subtle lisp and his tone was of a higher pitch than the average man. Unlike other men of his status, he would often abstain from excessive gluttony with food and drink; his abstinence from alcohol was highly influenced by his maternal uncle the late Duc de Joyeuse. Taking a more feminine approach, Henri would place a great emphasis on his fashion taste; he would particularly enjoy the use of gems, ermine and various light-reddish tones.

Stemming from his youth, he would be among the more squeamish courtiers with barely a taste for scenes of death; even the thought of being near death would cause the boy to begin dry heaving. Henri's weak taste for such would lead to an uneasiness in certain scenarios, and as such he would commonly carry a scented handkerchief to mitigate the sickness. This weakness, although apparent, would not impede the Duc's military service beyond periodic sickness in bloodier scenes.

## Relationships

### Legitimate Issue

By his first wife, Marie Hélène de Clermont-Tonnerre:

* Miscarriage (9 April 1651)
* Marie Henriette Delphine, Mademoiselle de Guise (4 February 1655 - Present)
* Françoise Louise Colette, Mademoiselle de Léon (17 January 1656 - Present)
* Henri François Charles Auguste Dieudonne Emmanuel Marie, Duc de Penthièvre (25 December 1657 - Present)
* Charles Étienne Philippe Cesar, Prince de Léon (7 December 1658 - Present)
* Louise Charlotte Dominique Therese, Mademoiselle de Nomeny (31 October 1659 - Present)
* Miscarriage (18 April 1660)

### Illegitimate Issue

By Jeanne Françoise Louise de Rochechouart, Duchesse de Damvile:

* **Henriette Amélie Thérèse de Montmorency**, *Mademoiselle d'Ostremont* (April 17th, 1660 - Present)

### Courtly Relationships

With a tendency to stray from the common homosocial behaviors of his peers, the young prince often would prefer the exclusive company of women over that of other men; some exceptions would be the Emperor (whom he would retain first name basis with) and the *Duc de Retz*, *Duc de Joyeuse* and *Comte de Bresteau.* Although a particularly flirtatious individual, he would generally refrain from having nearly as many partners as his fellow cousins. Of his heart, the young Duc would have multiple passing flings of a sexual nature with the younger women at court. Having ceased such encounters following his marriage, he would find companionship with the *Princesse de Sedan* for the early part of 1655 and the *Marquise de Mortemart* for a period of time between 1658 and 1660. His relationship with the *Duchesse de Damville*, although not found to be of a conventional nature, was one of a great platonic bond and oftentimes found to be quite intimate to such an extent that she would become a confidant to the emotionally insecure prince; it would be no surprise that the two would find themselves in a romantic liaison following her estrangement from the *Duc de Montmorency.* The *Vicomtesse de Tallard* would come to be an interesting case as, despite retaining a solely friendly relationship, she would benefit greatly from the patronage of the Duc.

Whilst a gregarious individual, no person except perhaps his wife would grow as close to him in the platonic as the *Madame Imperiale*, a friendship formed through a childhood of association and a mutual distaste for the facades the two formed before the court. Commonly found together, the two would affectionately refer to eachother as "Choupinet" and "Choupinette" and would maintain a close relationship throughout their growth. Their friendship, however, would grow to be of a forbidden nature following the disgrace of the Prince and in time the *Duchesse de Joyeuse* would occupy the role which she formerly did.

If, however, there was any exception to his open friendliness it would be the Duc de Montmorency. It is believed the distinct similarities between the two is what caused their initial rift, which later would be fueled by the younger Duc's dalliances with Henri's then-mistress. The two would continue to retain an on-and-off rivalry for the majority of their adulthoods, however there were some times when the two would get along.

## Titles & Styles

###  Styles

* **3rd March** **1633 - 17th January 1650** *Son Altesse Sérénissime* Monseigneur le Comte de Soissons
* **17th January 1650 - 22nd March 1660** *Son Altesse Sérénissime* Monseigneur le Duc de Mercœur
* **22nd March 1660 - Present** *Son Altesse Sérénissime* Monseigneur le Duc de Guise

### Title

* **3rd March 1633 - 22nd March 1660**: Comte de Soissons (*titre de courtoisie*)
* **17th January 1650 - Present:** Duc de Mercœur, Duc de Penthièvre, Prince de Martigues, Prince de Léon, Marquis de Nomeny, Baron de Fontenay, Baron de Soubise, Baron d’Ancenis
* **4th June 1655 - Present:** Comte de Bouchage, Seigneur de Saint-Didier
* **22nd March 1660 - Present:** Duc de Guise, Prince de Joinville, Prince de Château-Renault, Comte d'Eu, Comte de Soissons, Comte de Roucy, Comte de Nanteuil, Baron de Champdolent, Baron de Chevreaux, Baron d'Eclaron, Baron de Rumigny, Baron de Chaussin, Seigneur de Saligny, Seigneur de Dompierre, Seigneur de Le Thou, Seigneur de Meillant, Seigneur de Bassac, Seigneur de Drucat, Seigneur de Hirson, Seigneur de Lambesc, Seigneur de Meudon, Seigneur de Nesle, Seigneur de La Roche-Guyon, Seigneur de La Chastel, Seigneur de Hérisson, Seigneur de Laval, Seigneur de Le Roches, Seigneur de Doulevant, Seigneur de Marigny, Seigneur d'Aubenton, Seigneur de Montier-sur-Saulx, Seigneur d'Arzillieres, Seigneur de Marchais, Seigneur de Courtenay, Seigneur de Cureville, Seigneur d'Orgon, Seigneur d'Esgalières, Seigneur de Ribemont-sur-Oise, Seigneur d'Escalles, Seigneur de Guines, Seigneur d'Oye.

### Honours

* Chevalier de l'Ordre de Saint-Denis et Sainte-Genevieve