François de Lorraine-Guise

### Military Posts

Amiral des Mers du Levant,Colonel-Général de la Garde Impériale,Colonel de Chevaux-Léger,Capitaine de Regiment Garde Imperiale

## Biography

### Romantic Interests

Charles X & II, Empereur de Grandelumiere †Marie de Rochechouart, Comtesse de Clermont †

### Father

Charles I de Lorraine-Guise, Duc de Guise

### Mother

Françoise de Lorraine-Mercœur, Duchesse D. de Guise

### Issue

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 †

Henri de Lorraine-Guise, Duc de Mercœur

Stillbirth †

Elisabeth Christine de Lorraine-Guise, Mademoiselle de Penthièvre

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

Claude de Lorraine-Guise, Marquis de Nomeny

Marie Louise Élisabeth de Lorraine-Guise, Mademoiselle de Soissons

Henri-François de Lorraine-Guise, Comte de Roucy

### Siblings

Henri de Lorraine-Guise, Marquis de Nomeny † Henri de Lorraine-Guise, Cardinal de Guise

Marie de Lorraine-Guise, Duchesse de Nemours

Charles Louis de Lorraine-Guise, Prince de Joinville

Henriette-Catherine de Lorraine-Guise, Duchesse de Mayenne

Louis de Lorraine-Guise, Eveque de Metz

Rogar de Lorraine-Guise, Eveque de Luçon

### Religion

Roman Catholicism

**François II de Lorraine-Guise** *(3rd of October, 1610 - Present)* Is a Grandelumierian nobleman, military officer, and courtier from the prominent Maison de Guise, descendants from the sovereign house of Lorraine. He was the first born son of Charles de Guise, *Duc de Guise*. He was the eldest child out of five children. Being the rightful successor to the prosperous and large family which has brought the house immense popularity and influence within the State. François holds numerous courtly and military positions including, Grand Maître de l'Empire, Colonel-Général de la Grade Impériale, Colonel de Chevaux-Léger, and Capitaine de Regiment de la Garde Impériale.

## Early life

François de Guise was born on November 29th, 1610 at the Château de Joinville. The eldest son of Charles de Guise, Duc de Guise and wife, Françoise de Lorraine-Mercœur, Suo Jure Duchesse de Mercœur. He was born during a prosperous time for his family, son of the renowned Charle I, Duc de Chevreuse and grandson of beloved Henri I, Duc de Guise. He is descended from the Sovereign house of Lorraine and with a rich history to match.

As a child, François was mainly brought up in Joinville. During this time he frequently made visits to Hôtel de Guise, Paris where he participated with his family where they met with the people of Paris and distributed goods and made sedate prayers about internal issues or to the people of Paris.

### Education

François studied alongside his siblings and cousins. They were tutored by the illustrious Monsieur Jacques Saint-Loius who was notable within the Champagne region, notable for having started the first college within Joinville with support and patronage of the Guise family. He studied with Saint-Loius until the Impératrice-Douairière de Grandelumière, Regente de Grandelumière, Marguerite d'Autriche-Styrie called upon François and the other companions of the Emperor to join him for the remainder of his minority at the newly constructed Château de Vaucresson. During this time François studied English, German, Latin, mathematics, theology, history, grammar law, and rhetoric. He excelled particularly in history and Latin. During this same time some of the extracurriculars popular amongst the companions were swordsmanship, dancing, painting, François in specific was naturally gifted in the harpischord and cello.

Towards the end of Charles X & II's minority the companions had taken to college studies during the remainder of their minorities, at the request of his grandfather, Henri I, Duc de Guise. They primarily focused on martial law and domain management which consisted of both estate's and land. François was often noted for his shyness and wit, though once growing close to the other companions, he was said to have been the life of the party and a witty boy.

## Court of Charles X & II

Following the companions and Emperor reaching age majority they quickly joined the Imperial Court after the return to Paris where the beginning of Charles X & II reign took place. François was quickly pushed into the light of court, he and his entourage often found themselves in the center of attention, as one should as Prince of the Blood and companion to Emperor Charles X & II. He settled into his apartments adjacent to the Guise apartments where he regularly went to sit in with his family during their obsolete salons and balls.

Shortly after his arrival he was deployed in the year of 1624 where he served with little distinction in the Siege of Amiens. He returned in late September of 1625.

After settled into Court, the Guise family would be stroke with tragedy, Henri I, Duc de Guise fell very ill and was put to bedrest at the Hôtel de Guise. In response the family resorted to keeping close to the people of Paris and making daily prayers for the health of the Duc. After a calm evening and dinner hosted by the family, the valet had asked for family members and friends at the request of the Duc for a final visit. After his last rites, Henri I, Duc de Guise would die in the early hours of the morning throwing the court into a sorrowful state. François was deeply affected by this and after the death he kept to himself and made daily visits to the chapel where he'd make solemn prayers for a period of time.

### Marriage

Months following the death of his grandfather, his father, Charles I, Duc de Guise thrusted François into a marriage with Marie de Joyeuse, Mademoiselle de Covissac. The two got on well and the preparations were made, the two wedded on June 27th, 1626 followed by a banquet at the Château de Joinville where François's mother bequeathed him the Duché de Penthièvre as a wedding gift.

The two's marriage was quite fruitful and within months of marriage, it was announced that the Duchesse was bearing a child. The pregnancy had few complications of and the birth of a little girl was announced the day after the birth. Though, throughout their marriage, the lack of heir and children hardly making it past infancy had grown to be a large concern, until the birth of Henri de Lorraine-Guise. At birth he was styled as the Comte de Soissons. A week of celebrations were held by the family with joys of the succession of the mainline being saved with a grand hunt followed by a ball at the Château de Meudon.

## Duc de Penthièvre

As the Duc de Penthièvre, François took up the charges and reins quite well. He made visits every so often and was received in the city of Lambelle where he met with the regional officials and magistrates. During his visits he made it his duty to share a dinner with the townspeople within the town square adjacent to the Hôtel de Penthièvre where he stayed during his visits. The people adored François and his ideas to help develop the region and city further, the notable changes within the region were focused on the rich farmlands and the expansion and further development of key cities in Penthièvre.

When François wasn't away from court, he was a key attender at Court. François was a devoted Catholic and spent his mornings in prayer with his family. He often hosted his entourage and courtier's within his personal apartments where, they'd discuss the recent additions of the *La Gazette* and gossip circulated around the Imperial Court.

### War in Germany

In late 1626, the State declared war against Sweden and allies. Sided with the Catholic States in Germany. François was deployed to the eastern front with his father, Charles I, Duc de Guise. He was notable in the Siege of Heilbronn when he helped round up the Protestant supporters and oversee the distribution of supplies stolen from the fortified city. François would have other minor distinction during his long and hefty campaign before making his long needed return to the Imperial Court in Paris.

### Perpetual Compromise of 1634

During the feast following the ball hosted by the Imperial Party in the name of the soldiers who fought vigorously against Sweden and her allies, Monsieur, Duc de Bourgogne was making outraging comments to Emperor, Charles X & II. Following the feast, the Emperor announced gifts to the noblemen who fought during the war, golden busts of the Emperor himself. François found himself insulted by receiving a golden bust of the Emperor and made it very clear to his father, Charles I, Duc de Guise who shared the same sentiments and went far as to mention the removal of a position on His Majesty's council. The Emperor had invited select nobles to his private salon, and the remaining party of courtier's sought refuge in Monsieur's lavish salon where the half-drunken nobles had grown outraged by the 'gift' from the Emperor. One thing led to another and the Noble head's made haste to the Emperor's study where demands were made and the Emperor had insulted François's very own father, mind this was not the first time such has happened.In reaction, the enraged nobles stormed out of the Louvre to their carriage's where Monsieur begged them not to leave, but it was too late, the Guise party had already begin their journey to the Château de Joinville.

Once all parties arrived, a compiled list of demands were made and the Duc de Champdenier a mediator to the Emperor had come to receive the demands and return them to the Emperor. The party returned to Paris and stayed in their personal hotels, the compromise was to be held the in the gallery of the Louvre. The Guise had their demands met and we're satisfied as well as other Noble heads. the Compromise was signed by both parties, it went relatively well until the Emperor had extend his hand for the Monsieur to kiss, with rings up as a sign to mend what was broken. Following this their was peace for another short period of time.

## Death of Charles X & II

On the evening of the 1st September, 1638, Charles took up his regular courtly Couvert, with the first course, being Soupe Imperiale. In this soupe, it was remarked from observers that His Majesty was uncomfortable with the texture of the soup, motioning for cream to thicken it. Aproximately 6 minutes into the Couvert, his Majesty stood abruptly following coughing throughout, with those in attendence, and proceeded to stumble backwards, dragging the table cloth over. Much screaming and much chaos followed. Those in attendance immediately rushed to His Majestie's assistance, however it was quite clear that the situation was dire and fatal, after a episode of convulsion, his Majesty was rushed to his bedchamber where he received final rites, passing away at 10:33p.m. on the evening of the 2nd of September, 1638.

Following the death, François had prompted his leave from Court, the account of several Nobles whom he passed that morning described him as melancholic and dreaded, donned with a black outfit with humble in-lay's. He comforted the people of Paris after he made a brief stop to the Hôtel de Guise before leaving directly to the Château de Joinville. François would remain there for several weeks, out of his own grief, he'd make frequent visits to the fortified city where he'd distribute goods while comforting them. One account by his very own Valet, Monsieur Tulgoun that out of his own companion and friend Emperor, Charles X & II, that on occasion François could be heard sobbing from within the confines of his bedchamber, though this could never be confirmed by any other accounts.

## Titles & Styles

### Titles and Styles

* **29 November 1610 - 27 June 1626** *Son Altesse Sérénissime Monseigneur le Prince de Château-Renault*

* **27 June 1626 - 8 October 1639** *Son Altesse Sérénissime Monseigneur le Duc de Penthièvre*

* **8 October 1639 - Present** *Son Altesse Sérénissime Monseigneur le Duc de Guise*

### Honours

* **8 August 1636 - 8 October 1639** *Chevalier de l’Ordre de Saint Denis et Sainte Geneviève*
* **8 October 1639 - Present** *Grand Chancelier l’Ordre de Saint Denis et Sainte Geneviève*
* **12 December 1644 - Present** *Chevalier de l'Ordre de Saint-Michel*