Claude, Duke Of Aumale
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Claude II de Lorraine, duc d'Aumale (18 August 1526,
Joinville Joinville () is the largest city in Santa Catarina (state), Santa Catarina, in the Southern Brazil, Southern Region of Brazil. It is the third largest municipality in the southern region of Brazil, after the much larger state capitals of Curitib ...
– 3 March 1573,
La Rochelle La Rochelle (, , ; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''La Rochéle'') is a city on the west coast of France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime Departments of France, department. Wi ...
) was a
Prince étranger ''Prince étranger'' (English: "foreign prince") was a high, though somewhat ambiguous, rank at the French royal court of the ''Ancien Régime''. Terminology In medieval Europe, a nobleman bore the title of prince as an indication of sovereignty, ...
, military commander and French governor, during the latter
Italian Wars The Italian Wars were a series of conflicts fought between 1494 and 1559, mostly in the Italian Peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and Mediterranean Sea. The primary belligerents were the House of Valois, Valois kings o ...
and the early
French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion were a series of civil wars between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants (called Huguenots) from 1562 to 1598. Between two and four million people died from violence, famine or disease di ...
. The son of the first Duke of Guise he started his career in a pre-eminent position in French politics as a son of one of the leading families in the court of
Henri II of France Henry II (; 31 March 1519 – 10 July 1559) was King of France from 1547 until his death in 1559. The second son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany, he became Dauphin of France upon the death of his elder brother Francis in 1536. As ...
. Upon the death of his father in 1550, Aumale inherited the governorship of
Burgundy Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. ...
from his father, and the duchy of Aumale from his brother who assumed the titles of Guise. Aumale was made colonel-general of the light horse by the new king and fought in Italy,
Alsace Alsace (, ; ) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in the Grand Est administrative region of northeastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine, next to Germany and Switzerland. In January 2021, it had a population of 1,9 ...
and
Picardie Picardy (; Picard and , , ) is a historical and cultural territory and a former administrative region located in northern France. The first mentions of this province date back to the Middle Ages: it gained its first official recognition in the ...
between 1551 and 1559. While leading the light cavalry during the defence of Metz he was captured, and held for the next two years, until his mother in law
Diane de Poitiers Diane de Poitiers (9 January 1500 – 25 April 1566) was a French noblewoman and courtier who wielded much power and influence as King Henry II of France, Henry II's Maîtresse-en-titre, royal mistress and adviser until his death. Her position inc ...
paid his ransom. He achieved success at the siege of
Volpiano Volpiano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in the Italian region Piedmont. The city is located about 15 km north-east of Turin. Economy It is an industrial (fuel, transportation, electronic, for example ) an ...
and played an important role in the capture of Calais for which he was rewarded with the governorship of French
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
. With the death of Henri II he found himself further pushed into prominence in the Guise regime for the young François II. He took part in the effort to suppress the Conspiracy of Amboise that threatened to topple the regime in early 1560. He played a key role in the organisation of the expedition to
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
in 1560, however the instability that racked the country in the wake of the conspiracy in combination with financial issues ensured the cancellation of the expedition, in December of that year the king died and the Guise regime was displaced by a regency under Catherine de Medici. Alienated by the new regime he departed court in early 1561, before returning as part of his brother Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine's attempted policy of religious reconciliation at the Colloquy of Poissy, the failure of this and the increasing Protestant nature of Catherine's inner circle led to him leading the family into a second exile from court. In early 1562 he was with his brothers at their meeting with the Duke of Württemberg where the topic of uniting around the Lutheran creed was broached. Any hope of this policy was shattered on the return to the capital, where Guise's men committed a Massacre of Protestant worshippers at Wassy. This served as the instigating incident for the
French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion were a series of civil wars between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants (called Huguenots) from 1562 to 1598. Between two and four million people died from violence, famine or disease di ...
. Aumale served the crown throughout the first war, repeatedly trying to besiege Rouen without success, before the main royal army arrived with sufficient force to subdue the town. He failed to stop François de Coligny d'Andelot bringing mercenaries into the kingdom to reinforce the rebel cause. He was wounded at the Battle of Dreux in December. In January his brother was assassinated, leaving him and Lorraine as heads of the family. Guise's son inherited his governorship of Champagne. Aumale would act as de facto governor until the young Guise attained his majority. He played a far more active role in the governance of Champagne than his own government of Burgundy. Meanwhile he and his family prosecuted a bitter vendetta against
Gaspard II de Coligny Gaspard de Coligny, seigneur de Châtillon (; 16 February 1519 – 24 August 1572), was a French nobleman, Admiral of France, and Huguenot leader during the French Wars of Religion. He served under kings Francis I and Henry II during the ...
who they blamed for the assassination of Guise. This culminated in skirmishes in Paris, before the king was able to enforce a peace in 1566 between the parties. Aumale continued to fight in the second and third civil wars, but was repeatedly unable to stop incursions into France by German ''reiters'' in favour of the rebels. While he was not involved in the planning of the liquidation of the Protestant leadership he was intimately involved in the killing of the Protestant leaders on 24 August 1572 that would spiral out of control into the
Massacre of Saint Bartholomew The Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre () in 1572 was a targeted group of assassinations and a wave of Catholic mob violence directed against the Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) during the French Wars of Religion. Traditionally believed ...
. The following year he was among the nobles present at the
siege of La Rochelle The siege of La Rochelle (, or sometimes ) was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627–1628. The siege marked the height of Huguenot rebellions, the struggle between ...
where he was killed on 3 March 1573.


Early life and family


Family

Claude II de Lorraine, duc d'Aumale, was born in 1526, the third son of
Claude, Duke of Guise Claude de Lorraine, Duke of Guise (20 October 1496 – 12 April 1550) was a French aristocrat and general. He became the first Duke of Guise in 1528. He was a highly effective general for the French crown. His children and grandchildren were to ...
and Antoinette de Bourbon. The eldest son
François, Duke of Guise François de Lorraine, 2nd Duke of Guise, 1st Prince of Joinville, and 1st Duke of Aumale (17 February 1519 – 24 February 1563), was a French general and statesman. A prominent leader during the Italian War of 1551–1559 and French Wars of Re ...
was 7 years his elder, while Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine was born in 1524.
Louis I, Cardinal of Guise Louis de Lorraine, cardinal de Guise et prince-évêque de Metz (21 October 1527, in Joinville, Champagne – 29 March 1578, in Paris) was a French Roman Catholic cardinal and Bishop during the Italian Wars and French Wars of Religion. The third ...
was born in 1527, while
François de Lorraine François de Lorraine (24 June 1506 – 24 February 1525) was the Lord of Lambesc, and a commander in the French army under Francis I of France. He was a son of René II, Duke of Lorraine and Philippa of Guelders. He commanded the Black Band of r ...
was born in 1534. The youngest Guise son René, Marquis of Elbeuf was born in 1536. Meanwhile his sisters
Mary of Guise Mary of Guise (; 22 November 1515 – 11 June 1560), also called Mary of Lorraine, was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from 1538 until 1542, as the second wife of King James V. She was a French people, French noblewoman of the ...
, Louise of Guise, Reneé of Guise and Antoinette of Guise were born in 1515, 1520, 1522 and 1531 respectively.


Louise de Brézé

On 1 August 1547 he married Louise de Brézé (c. 1518 – January 1577), dame d'
Anet Anet () is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France. It lies 14 km north-northeast of Dreux between the rivers Eure and Vesgre, the latter flowing into the former some 4 km n ...
, the daughter of
Louis de Brézé, seigneur d'Anet Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS Louis, HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy Se ...
, and
Diane de Poitiers Diane de Poitiers (9 January 1500 – 25 April 1566) was a French noblewoman and courtier who wielded much power and influence as King Henry II of France, Henry II's Maîtresse-en-titre, royal mistress and adviser until his death. Her position inc ...
in one of the key political marriages of the decade. Diane gifted her new son in law
Rhuys The Rhuys Peninsula (, ) is located in the ''département'' of Morbihan in the region of Brittany in northwestern France. Three communes are located on the peninsula: * Sarzeau, the largest, covering 50% of the area of the peninsula * Arzon * ...
and Sucinio in Bretagne. She further favoured him with her Norman possessions. The Duke of Guise inquired of
Gaspard II de Coligny Gaspard de Coligny, seigneur de Châtillon (; 16 February 1519 – 24 August 1572), was a French nobleman, Admiral of France, and Huguenot leader during the French Wars of Religion. He served under kings Francis I and Henry II during the ...
as to his opinions on the marriage, Coligny replied that he felt Aumale had debased himself by marrying for profit as opposed to the honour of his family. Guise retorted that Coligny was jealous. The de Bréze inheritance took a considerable time to settle. Aumale and Louise traded Mauny for Anet with the other heirs, the La Marck's. The La Marcks poor financial situation allowed them to purchase the County of Maulévrier and Barony of Bee Crespin in 1562. Henri-Robert de la Marck was compelled into this by the debts he had acquired as the result of his father's ransom. Aumale continued to acquire land in Normandie until by the late 1560s he was one of the great landholders of upper Normandie.


Children

They had: * Henri (21 October 1549, Château de Saint-Germain – 1 August 1559), Count of Valentinois died in childhood. * Catherine Romula (8 November 1550, Saint-Germain – 25 June 1606), married on 11 May 1569 Nicholas, Duke of Mercœur * Madeleine Diane (b. 5 February 1554), died at birth. young * Charles, Duke of Aumale (1555–1631) * Diane (10 November 1558 – 25 June 1586,
Ligny Ligny (; ) is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Sombreffe, located in the province of Namur, Belgium. Previously its own municipality, a 1977 fusion of the Belgian municipalities made it an '' ancienne commune'' of So ...
), married on 13 November 1576 François, Duke of Piney-Luxemburg * Antoinette (b. 9 June 1560, Nancy), died at birth * Antoinette Louise (29 September 1561, Joinville – 24 August 1643,
Soissons Soissons () is a commune in the northern French department of Aisne, in the region of Hauts-de-France. Located on the river Aisne, about northeast of Paris, it is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital ...
), Abbess of Soissons * Antoine (b. 12 November 1562), died at birth *
Claude Claude may refer to: People and fictional characters * Claude (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Claude (surname), a list of people * Claude Callegari (1962–2021), English Arsenal supporter * Claude Debussy (1862–1918), ...
(13 December 1564 – 3 January 1591, Saint-Denis), called the "Chevalier d'Aumale", Abbot of St.-Pere-en-Valle,
Chartres Chartres () is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Eure-et-Loir Departments of France, department in the Centre-Val de Loire Regions of France, region in France. It is located about southwest of Paris. At the 2019 census, there were 1 ...
, Knight of the
Order of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, and commonly known as the Order of Malta or the Knights of Malta, is a Catholic Church, Cathol ...
, General of the Galleys * Marie (10 June 1565 – 27 January 1627), Abbess of Chelles * Charles (25 January 1566 – 7 May 1568, Paris) died in early childhood.


Reign of Henri II

At the beginning of Henri II's reign, the king was faced with revolts against the ''Gabelle'' tax in the Garrone. To this end he dispatched his favourite
Anne de Montmorency Anne de Montmorency, duc de Montmorency ( – 12 November 1567) was a French noble, governor, royal favourite and Constable of France during the mid to late Italian Wars and early French Wars of Religion. He served under five French kings (Loui ...
alongside
François, Duke of Guise François de Lorraine, 2nd Duke of Guise, 1st Prince of Joinville, and 1st Duke of Aumale (17 February 1519 – 24 February 1563), was a French general and statesman. A prominent leader during the Italian War of 1551–1559 and French Wars of Re ...
and Aumale. Together they achieved success in suppressing the tax revolt. That same year the king elevated the marquisate of Aumale to a duchy for its current holder, Guise. Aumale for his part held the marquisate of Mayenne. In May 1547 Aumale was made a '' Chevalier de l'ordre de Saint-Michel'' and in either 1548 or 1549 he became colonel general of the light cavalry. As part of the Treaty of Boulogne which ended the war of the
Rough Wooing The Rough Wooing (; December 1543 – March 1551), also known as the Eight Years' War, was part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars of the 16th century. Following the English Reformation, the break with the Catholic Church, England attacked Scotland ...
, Aumale and François de Vendôme, Vidame de Chartres, were among six French hostages sent to England.


Inheritance

Upon the death of
Claude, Duke of Guise Claude de Lorraine, Duke of Guise (20 October 1496 – 12 April 1550) was a French aristocrat and general. He became the first Duke of Guise in 1528. He was a highly effective general for the French crown. His children and grandchildren were to ...
in 1550, the duke's Norman territories were split between the two Guise children with the most landed interests in Normandie, Aumale and René, Marquis of Elbeuf. Aumale's brother
François, Duke of Guise François de Lorraine, 2nd Duke of Guise, 1st Prince of Joinville, and 1st Duke of Aumale (17 February 1519 – 24 February 1563), was a French general and statesman. A prominent leader during the Italian War of 1551–1559 and French Wars of Re ...
provided the title of Aumale to him in April, given he was set to inherit that of Guise. Alongside his Norman inheritance, the king permitted the new duke to inherit his father's governorship of
Burgundy Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. ...
. He was also made ''Grand Veneur'' during the reign of Henri II. Aumale was contemptful of the prospect of administering his governorship personally, mockingly saying in 1556 that having to administer his province would take only one hour a week, it was therefore a matter best left to a lieutenant-general. He would later brag that he had many governors across France who would follow his whim i.e. Guisard clients. Aumale was allowed to come to Scotland, with a passport from Edward VI dated 11 May, to see his sister
Mary of Guise Mary of Guise (; 22 November 1515 – 11 June 1560), also called Mary of Lorraine, was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from 1538 until 1542, as the second wife of King James V. She was a French people, French noblewoman of the ...
. He wrote from Edinburgh on 18 May that he would view the strong places of the realm.
Regent Arran In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
gave him three horses and organised a banquet for him in Edinburgh on 21 May. He returned to France through England, visiting Edward VI at
Greenwich Greenwich ( , , ) is an List of areas of London, area in south-east London, England, within the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Greater London, east-south-east of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime hi ...
on 12 June before taking a ship at Dover.


Resumption of the Italian Wars


Piedmont Campaign

Seeing potential advantage, Henri II resumed the
Italian Wars The Italian Wars were a series of conflicts fought between 1494 and 1559, mostly in the Italian Peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and Mediterranean Sea. The primary belligerents were the House of Valois, Valois kings o ...
in 1551. To this end Brissac assembled an army in the Piedmont for an invasion of Italy. Among the forces under him were the flower of the French nobility, including Aumale. The army successfully reduced the town of
Chieri Chieri (; ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont (Italy), located about southeast of Turin, by rail and by road. It borders the following municipalities: Baldissero Torinese, Pavarolo, Montaldo Torinese, Pino ...
. This conflict was not however technically war with the Emperor. Both Henri and
Charles V Charles V may refer to: Kings and Emperors * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise Others * Charles V, Duke ...
were fighting a proxy war in these engagements, and it would not be until the following year that full scale conflict would develop between the powers.


Capture of the Three Bishoprics

Having received an invitation to take the
Three Bishoprics The Three Bishoprics ( ) constituted a Provinces of France, government of the Kingdom of France consisting of the dioceses of Prince-Bishopric of Metz, Metz, Prince-Bishopric of Verdun, Verdun, and Prince-Bishopric of Toul, Toul within the Lorr ...
, Henri invaded
Alsace Alsace (, ; ) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in the Grand Est administrative region of northeastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine, next to Germany and Switzerland. In January 2021, it had a population of 1,9 ...
in 1552. With
Metz Metz ( , , , then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle (river), Moselle and the Seille (Moselle), Seille rivers. Metz is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments ...
occupied,
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) ...
now offered his response, beginning a large scale siege of the city, which was under the military leadership of Aumale's brother Guise. With the
duke of Alba Duke of Alba de Tormes (), commonly known as Duke of Alba, is a title of Spanish nobility that is accompanied by the dignity of Grandee of Spain. In 1472, the title of ''Count of Alba de Tormes'', inherited by García Álvarez de Toledo, wa ...
moving to set up his forces against the city, Aumale, who was present in his capacity as colonel-general was dispatched with the light cavalry to harass and stymy his efforts, to delay the full investment of Metz. Near the town of Nancy Aumale's troops were caught up in a skirmish, and after a bloody fight in which he was taken off his horse, he was forced to surrender. His brother was proud when he heard of the fight that he had put up prior to his capture. Guise would successfully hold the city and Charles V was forced to raise the siege. Diane ensured that Aumale's heavy ransom would be provided, paying the Margrave of Brandenburg 60,000 ''livres'' in 1554 to secure her son in laws release from captivity. Aumale was released from captivity on 28 April 1554.


Second Italian Campaign

Later that year Aumale was back in command, leading a force of 4000 infantry and 2000 horse at
Laon Laon () is a city in the Aisne Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. History Early history The Ancient Diocese of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held s ...
as part of Henri's revenge campaign for the destruction of
Thérouanne Thérouanne (; ; Dutch ''Terwaan'') is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France west of Aire-sur-la-Lys and south of Saint-Omer, on the river Lys. Population History At the time of the Gauls, ''T ...
the previous year. The campaign would achieve surprising success, with a small force under Guise besting the Imperial army at Renty. The following year Aumale was back in Italy under the command of Brissac. Having recently received reinforcements from Henri, Brissac made an attack on the town of
Volpiano Volpiano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in the Italian region Piedmont. The city is located about 15 km north-east of Turin. Economy It is an industrial (fuel, transportation, electronic, for example ) an ...
however sickness overcame him and he ceded command of the siege to Aumale. As in years previous, many ambitious young nobles flocked to the siege lines to participate in the victory, including Condé, Nemours and
Enghien Enghien (; ; ; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. On 1January 2006, Enghien had a total population of 11,980. The total area is , which gives a population density of 295 inhabitants per km2. ...
. Aumale's first attack lacked enough artillery support and failed, this failure alerted Alba to the attack, and he sent companies to reinforce the town. Aumale dispatched Enghein, Blaise de Monluc and other captains to intercept them, which they achieve. By 19 September Brissac returns from his convalescence expecting to receive the towns surrender, but fighting continues until 23 September when the town surrenders.


Disaster in the north

In the late 1550s, the campaign against Charles moved north into
Picardie Picardy (; Picard and , , ) is a historical and cultural territory and a former administrative region located in northern France. The first mentions of this province date back to the Middle Ages: it gained its first official recognition in the ...
. Guise meanwhile campaigned in Italy, but without much success, Alba grinding him down in a war of attrition. In May 1557 Lorraine wrote to the king, urging him to relieve command of the Italian forces from Guise, giving the responsibility to Aumale, the king for the moment did nothing however. Meanwhile the Imperial army delivered a crushing blow to a French force under
Anne de Montmorency Anne de Montmorency, duc de Montmorency ( – 12 November 1567) was a French noble, governor, royal favourite and Constable of France during the mid to late Italian Wars and early French Wars of Religion. He served under five French kings (Loui ...
, constable of France and the king's favourite at the battle of Saint-Quentin. Much of the high French nobility including Montmorency were captured in the debacle. This left the Guise with an opportunity to assert their dominance at court, and shortly thereafter Guise travelled from Italy to meet the king, and was made lieutenant-general of France, the highest military office in the absence of the Constable. His brothers Aumale, Elbeuf and François de Lorraine, Grand Prior joined him as he planned his next moves, Aumale having commanded the Italian army on its withdrawal back to France as Guise raced off ahead. With the armies withdrawal from Italy, the Pope was forced to make peace with the Imperial forces in September. Aumale for his part would request the Marshal baton vacated by the death of the Duke of Bouillon in Spanish captivity. Bouillon had been made prisoner in the Battle of Hesdin in 1553 and had died shortly after his release in 1556. Henri considered the prospect, but decided against it, holding onto the baton for the next two years before awarding it to
Paul de Thermes Paul de La Barthe de Thermes or de Termes (1482–1562), also Paul de Terme or Maréchal de Thermes, was a French army Marshal ("Maréchal"). Reign of Henri II Rough Wooing In June 1549, de Thermes was sent to Scotland to help in the war against ...
. Guise settled on conquering siege of Calais as a way to restore French honour and gain a strategic advantage, a city which had been in English hands since 1347. Aumale and Elbeuf joined him for the siege and, after capturing a weak fortress that guarded the approach to Calais, entrusted Aumale and Elbeuf with its defence while he retired to camp. The brothers held the castle against two ferocious counter attacks by the desperate English, who recognised the strategic importance of the site. By 8 January the commander of Calais sued for terms, and yielded the critical city. In reward for the victory, Henri provided gifts to those captains he held most responsible. Aumale was provided the governorship of French controlled
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
replacing Brissac in the role. This necessitated a replacement for Aumale as commander of the light horse, an honour which was given to
Jacques, Duke of Nemours Jacques de Savoie, duc de Nemours (12 October 153115 June 1585) was a French military commander, governor and Prince étranger, Prince Étranger. Having inherited his titles at a young age, Nemours fought for king Henri II of France, Henri II duri ...
. He was further provided with a temporary lieutenancy giving him military command in Picardie, an office he would make use of from May to July of that year, working in concert with Jacques d'Humières. At the end of this tenure the disastrous battle of Gravelines again threw the French forces into disarray.


Reign of François II

As part of the 'Palace Revolution' that accompanied the death of Henri II, Diane de Poitiers was forced into exile from court to satisfy Catherine de Medici who had never liked her husband's mistress. Aumale, the son in law of Diane protested but the needs to satisfy the queen mother overruled his own.


Conspiracy of Amboise

In opposition to the Guise government that was formed in the wake of the death of Henri II, a
conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, ploy, or scheme, is a secret plan or agreement between people (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder, treason, or corruption, especially with a political motivat ...
formed, combining religious and political malcontents with the new order. This conspiracy attempted to kidnap the young François II while he was staying at the Castle of
Amboise Amboise (; ) is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Today a small market town, it was once home to the French royal court. Geography Amboise lies on the banks of the river Loire, east of Tours. It is also about awa ...
. Forewarned of the conspiracy, the Guise invited much of the upper nobility to the court, including Aumale and set about preparing a defence. When the conspiracy activated in March 1560, various bands were repelled from the castle. Marshal Saint-André, favourite of the deceased king, was tasked with heading to
Tours Tours ( ; ) is the largest city in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Indre-et-Loire. The Communes of France, commune of Tours had 136,463 inhabita ...
with 200 horse, so that he might suppress any disorder related to the rebellion in that city. Aumale, Nemours and the Prince of Condé were instructed to support his efforts in
Tours Tours ( ; ) is the largest city in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Indre-et-Loire. The Communes of France, commune of Tours had 136,463 inhabita ...
and travelled there in the following days. The rebellion was successfully crushed, and the leaders were summarily executed at Amboise. Nevertheless the conspiracy was an impetus for a new royal policy as regards Protestantism, where previously the concepts of heresy and sedition had been treated as a unified crime, they were for the first time separated as concepts in the
Edict of Amboise The Edict of Amboise, also known as the Edict of Pacification, was signed at the Château of Amboise on 19 March 1563 by Catherine de' Medici, acting as regent for her son Charles IX of France. The Edict ended the first war of the French Wars ...
, in which those convicted of heresy without taking up arms were pardoned on condition they live as good Catholics henceforth. Aumale was present at the formulation of this edict which inaugurated a new era for royal policy as concerned combatting heresy.


Scottish ambitions

The Guise government had great ambitions for Scotland and desired to send an expedition to the kingdom in 1560. Aumale, as a brother of the governments leaders and major land holder in Normandy was to be key in these plans. Elbeuf and Aumale worked in tandem with Bouillon and Jean d'Estouteville, seigneur de Villebon in organising the nobles that were gathering in the province, ready for transportation. The campaign would however founder due to problems of lack of money and the problems of internal instability that wracked France in the wake of Amboise.


Reign of Charles IX


Fall from power

In December the young king François, who had always been sickly, died. With his death the Guise connection to the government through his wife was severed and their dominance at court was greatly threatened. With Catherine de Medici and
Antoine of Navarre Antoine (, , 22 April 1518 – 17 November 1562), sometimes called Antoine of Bourbon, was King of Navarre from 1555 until his death in 1562 as the husband and co-ruler of Queen Jeanne III. He was the first monarch of the House of Bourbon, of whi ...
taking the lead for the young
Charles IX of France Charles IX (Charles Maximilien; 27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was List of French monarchs, King of France from 1560 until his death in 1574. He ascended the French throne upon the death of his brother Francis II of France, Francis II in 1560, an ...
, the Guise recognised there was little place for them in the new government. In an exodus in January 1561 Guise, Lorraine, Aumale, Cardinal Guise, Elbeuf and the Grand Prior departed from court.


Change in religious policy

The Colloquy of Poissy which attempted to resolve the religious question through a reconciliation of the faiths descended into acrimony. With the failure of this royal policy, Catherine as regent began to move the crown in the direction of formal toleration of two faiths simultaneously in the kingdom. Such a policy was intolerable and in combination with the increasing presence of open Protestants on the ''conseil privé'' which left little space for the Guise, the family decided once more to depart court. Aumale was the first to leave on 8 October, shortly to be followed by the rest of his family and sympathetic nobles, including the Protestant Longueville and Nemours. Catherine and Navarre pleaded for the family to return to court, conscious that they lacked a wide enough support base for a stable regime. In early 1562 the city council of
Dijon Dijon (, ; ; in Burgundian language (Oïl), Burgundian: ''Digion'') is a city in and the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Côte-d'Or Departments of France, department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region in eas ...
wrote a lengthy complaint to Aumale, urging him to punish Protestants in Burgundy who were 'in violation' of the Edict of January, the council had no plans to grant the Protestants the rights offered to them under the same edict, but saw it as a useful tool nevertheless. The lieutenant general of Burgundy, Tavannes who had Aumale's authority in his absence from the province was not willing to wait for Aumale to respond, and in May ordered all Protestant preachers to assemble in the square of Dijon so they could be expelled from the town. Back in February, the duke of Guise, Lorraine and Aumale travelled for a meeting with the duke of Württemberg at
Saverne Saverne (, ; Alsatian language, Alsatian: ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the Bas-Rhin departments of France, department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a mountain pass, pass ...
. The matter of discussion was Christian doctrine, Württemberg being a
Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
, a version of Protestantism not practiced in much of France but more of interest to Lorraine in terms of bringing about a reconciliation of the two faiths than
Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...
. Lorraine was interested in subscribing to the
Confession of Augsburg The Augsburg Confession (), also known as the Augustan Confession or the Augustana from its Latin name, ''Confessio Augustana'', is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Protestant ...
and the meeting ultimately concluded on cordial terms. However the friendly words with the Protestant prince would be shattered by the betrayal of the
Massacre of Wassy The Massacre of Vassy () was the murder of Huguenot worshippers and citizens in an armed action by troops of the Duke of Guise, in Wassy, France on 1 March 1562. The massacre is identified as the first major event in the French Wars of Religio ...
as Guise made his way back to the capital on 1 March in which the duke's men massacred a congregation of Protestant worshippers.


First war of religion


Failure outside Rouen

In May 1562 after the fall of
Dieppe Dieppe (; ; or Old Norse ) is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department, Normandy, northern France. Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to Newhaven in England ...
to a Protestant coup, Aumale was dispatched with a special commission to restore order in Normandie. Bouillon was furious that his government was being undermined by this extraordinary commission, and he besieged Aumale's deputy Matignon in his residence. Having achieved successes elsewhere in Normandy Aumale moved on Rouen. Aumale appeared before the walls of Rouen on 28 May 1562, in the previous month the city had joined the Protestant rebels under the overall authority of the Prince of Condé. Keen to avoid a costly siege he demanded the city open its gates to him. The rebels inside, confident of their defences refused his entreaties. Aumale was therefore forced to begin a
siege A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...
. He lacked the forces to fully invest the city, however the 3000 soldiers under his command were able to spend the next month harassing the surrounding area as a means of putting pressure on the inhabitants, meanwhile the city continued to fill with reinforcing Protestant forces. Withdrawing from the siege in June, Aumale brought his forces to the main royal army under Guise which was facing off in a stalemate with Condé near
Orléans Orléans (,"Orleans"
(US) and
Beaugency Beaugency () is a Communes of France, commune in the Loiret Departments of France, department, Centre-Val de Loire, north-central France. It is located on the Loire river, upriver (northeast) from Blois and downriver from Orléans. History Med ...
, between those of his allies Navarre and Guise. Condé stalled, unwilling to meet the growing royal army in an open battle, as he waited it continued to grow until such time as he felt it necessary to disperse his army and retreat inside Orléans. This gave the royal army the freedom of action to reduce the other towns that had fallen to the Protestants in the early months of the war. As a result the army was divided into four, with Aumale to deal with Rouen, Saint-André to seize Lyon, Montpensier to head south to
Guienne Guyenne or Guienne ( , ; ) was an old French province which corresponded roughly to the Roman province of '' Aquitania Secunda'' and the Catholic archdiocese of Bordeaux. Name The name "Guyenne" comes from ''Aguyenne'', a popular transform ...
and the main body under Navarre to confront Condé. A little while after Condé's deteriorating forces retreated into the city Aumale seized
Honfleur Honfleur () is a commune in the Calvados department in northwestern France. It is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine across from Le Havre and very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie. The people that inhabit Hon ...
on 21 July. This accomplished Aumale returned again to the walls of Rouen on 29 July with 6500 men, and set up batteries, however his forces were again able to do little against the walls with their small number.


Blocking effort

Having been unable to achieve success at Rouen, Aumale was tasked by the chiefs of the royal army with responsibility for blocking Andelot in his attempt to bring back the mercenary force of German ''reiters'' he had recruited in Germany to bolster the beleaguered Protestant army, that was shut up in the city of
Orléans Orléans (,"Orleans"
(US) and
Saint-André had to withdraw his forces from around Orléans. Aumale returned to his bête noire, the siege of Rouen. Continually short on funds he expropriated cloth that belonged to the merchants of Rouen that was sitting at Brienne. He also utilised methods that were more controversial among his fellow nobles, instructing Catholic peasants to harass Protestant forces. Hoping to aid his brother, Guise instructed for recently recruited German mercenaries to be directed from the
Loire The Loire ( , , ; ; ; ; ) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône. It rises in the so ...
where they weren't required to reinforce Aumale outside the city. During September and October the main royal army would come to Orléans, and successfully prosecute the siege where Aumale couldn't. At the Battle of Dreux in December, the only major field engagement of the first war of religion, Aumale fought with the crown. According to his brothers' report of the days event he was thrown from his horse in the fighting, and had broken his shoulder from the impact. Aumale's forces had tried to fight the Swiss Protestant ''reiters'' early in the day, in hopes of saving the left wing of the royal army, but his troops were routed by the oncoming Swiss.


Assassination of the duke of Guise

In January 1563, while conducting the
siege of Orléans The siege of Orléans (12 October 1428 – 8 May 1429) marked a turning point of the Hundred Years' War between France and England. The siege took place at the pinnacle of English power during the later stages of the war, but was repulsed by F ...
Guise was
assassinated Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a personespecially if prominent or important. It may be prompted by political, ideological, religious, financial, or military motives. Assassinations are orde ...
by
Jean de Poltrot Jean de Poltrot ( 1537 – 1563), sieur de Méré or Mérey, was a French nobleman of Angoumois, who Assassination of Francis, Duke of Guise, assassinated Francis, Duke of Guise in the aftermath of the massacre of Huguenots at Wassy. He had ...
. In the absence of
Lorraine Lorraine, also , ; ; Lorrain: ''Louréne''; Lorraine Franconian: ''Lottringe''; ; ; is a cultural and historical region in Eastern France, now located in the administrative region of Grand Est. Its name stems from the medieval kingdom of ...
, Aumale and Cardinal Guise hurried to the siege, keen to ensure their brothers exit was stage managed in an appropriately orthodox fashion after all the rumours that had surrounded Navarre's exit at
Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...
. They selected for him the conservative confessor the Bishop Riez, those who were present accused Riez of manipulating the dukes final words and downplaying his sorrow for his crime at
Wassy Wassy () is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Marne Departments of France, department in north-eastern France. Its population, as of 2019, is 2,819. Wassy has been Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with the German town of Eppingen i ...
. Riez provided the epistle of Saint James for the duke to listen to, one denounced by
Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...
as an 'epistle of straw' and ensured Guise defended the
Real presence The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, sometimes shortened Real Presence'','' is the Christian doctrine that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist, not merely symbolically or metaphorically, but in a true, real and substantial way. Th ...
. Their brothers death successfully managed the whole family met for a council in March, where they established the plan of their vendetta against
Gaspard II de Coligny Gaspard de Coligny, seigneur de Châtillon (; 16 February 1519 – 24 August 1572), was a French nobleman, Admiral of France, and Huguenot leader during the French Wars of Religion. He served under kings Francis I and Henry II during the ...
who they blamed for orchestrating the dukes death. Guise's death meant that the Catholic cause at court had lost its most charismatic defender. Aumale lacked his brothers charisma but had a far more consistent Catholic militarism. Aumale and Lorraine acted as the leaders of the ultra Catholic faction at court, holding the role until the young
Henry I, Duke of Guise Henri I de Lorraine, Duke of Guise, Prince of Joinville, Count of Eu (31 December 1550 – 23 December 1588), sometimes called ('Scarface'), was the eldest son of François, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este. His maternal grandparents were Ercole ...
reached his majority. Alongside Aumale's role representing his nephew's interests at court, it was also his duty to act as governor of
Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
during the young princes minority until he reached adulthood.


Champagne

In the capacity of de facto governor Champagne, when controversy arose between the governor of Châlons-sur-Marne, Louis de Clermont, seigneur de Bussy and his town council over his desire to have a royal garrison to protect the town while German mercenaries returned over the border. Aumale was deferred to, he responded fiercely, harshly criticising the council for their intransigence on the issue. The council apologised to the duke, but maintained their opposition to a royal garrison. Aumale visited the city himself in May to enforce a garrison of four companies of soldiers on the community. When the election results in
Troyes Troyes () is a Communes of France, commune and the capital of the Departments of France, department of Aube in the Grand Est region of north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about south-east of Paris. Troyes is situated within ...
did not go the way the local administration wanted, they appealed to Aumale, who got them voided, the election was held again with the same result causing a new appeal, Aumale secured a guarantee that the present administration could continue regardless. In some localities near Troyes, Aumale oversaw the prohibition of Protestantism.


Feud

At first pursuing their feud with Coligny through legal channels, Aumale argued bitterly with the Constable during council and took advantage of the courts presence in Champagne to argue with the Prince de Porcien a Protestant prince and ally of the Montmorency. With legal channels a failure, the king shutting down any attempts to re-open an investigation into the murder, the Guise turned to extra-legal methods. In 1565 they attempted a show of force in the capital, traditionally the backyard of the Montmorency. When Lorraine entered under arms, the governor François de Montmorency demanded he explain himself for violating his prohibition on armed entries into the capital. Forces of the governor and Lorraine got into skirmishes, and Lorraine came out the worse, beating a hasty retreat first to his residence. where he was besieged by heckling Parisians, and then from the city. A short while later Aumale entered Paris via a different gate, meeting far less resistance than Lorraine, he largely remained in the suburbs. Montmorency wrote to Montpensier opining his fears that these moves were a prelude to a Guisard attempt to seize the capital, however there is little evidence of any plan to do this. Aumale and his brother Elbeuf tried to establish a ''ligue'' of anti-Montmorency nobles in the provinces. They elicited oaths from nobles swearing to 'avenge the killers of the duke to the fourth generation' however none of this support provided material aid to their cause. These ''ligues'' should not be confused with the later Catholic ''ligue'', the target was not Protestantism but rather the house of Montmorency. In January 1566 while the court was staying at Moulins Lorraine warned that Aumale would seek to take Coligny's life, irrespective of a decision by the council. However later in his time at Moulins the eldest Guise brother Lorraine was forced by the king to exchange the kiss of peace with Coligny, Aumale for his part refused to acknowledge the Admiral.


Second war of religion

With civil war resumed in 1567 after the failure of the Protestant
Surprise of Meaux The surprise of Meaux (''La surprise de Meaux'') was a failed coup attempt by leading aristocratic Huguenots which precipitated the second French War of Religion. Dissatisfied with their lot, and under the pretext of fear of extermination, Lou ...
, Aumale was again tasked with defending the frontier against attempts to reinforce Condé's army, which was investing Paris, with German ''reiters''. That December the main royal army broke out of Paris under the command of the Constable Montmorency. In the battle of Saint Denis his forces bested those of Condé, however he himself was killed on the field. The office of Constable was now vacant and with it overall command of the royal army. The Guise family pushed for Aumale to be named as the new Constable, while the Montmorency pushed for Marshal Montmorency to receive the post. Neither would be successful, the crown little desiring to see such an important office held outside the royal family again, instead
Anjou Anjou may refer to: Geography and titles France *County of Anjou, a historical county in France and predecessor of the Duchy of Anjou **Count of Anjou, title of nobility *Duchy of Anjou, a historical duchy and later a province of France ** Du ...
was made lieutenant-general of the kingdom, giving him equivalent authority over the army. While these disputes were ongoing, none of the crowns forces were able to stop the juncture of Condé and the ''reiters'' in December, the Prince having fled eastwards with his forces after the bruising but small engagement. By early 1568, the drive of the war had diminished, and the king's council moved towards peace. Lorraine for his part was keen to send Aumale to
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
, to liberate
Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...
and secure the Catholic religion in the country. This expedition would not however come to pass, and war would resume later that same year as the peace was overturned.


Third war of religion

In the following civil war, after the abortive
Peace of Longjumeau The Peace of Longjumeau (also known as the Treaty of Longjumeau or the Edict of Longjumeau) was signed on 23 March 1568 by Charles IX of France and Catherine de' Medici. The edict brought to an end the brief second war of the French Wars of Relig ...
Aumale was for a third time entrusted with protecting the border against attempted mercenary incursions. He was encamped in
Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
with eighteen companies of men-at-arms, while Cossé defended the border up in
Picardie Picardy (; Picard and , , ) is a historical and cultural territory and a former administrative region located in northern France. The first mentions of this province date back to the Middle Ages: it gained its first official recognition in the ...
with a further fifteen. To assist him in his efforts in Champagne, he oversaw the assembling of a second army largely composed of mercenary contingents under the duke of Nemours. The Duke of Zweibrücken crossed the frontier in January 1569. Nemours and Aumale attempted with great urgency to stop him joining forces with the main Protestant body under Coligny, however they failed in their task and Zweibrücken outmaneuvered them, capturing
La Charité LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music *La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smit ...
on 20 May allowing him to link with the rebels. The two commanders forces, once outflanked had followed him in on his march into the interior, failing to confront him. Their inability to coordinate with each other and interpersonal difficulties aroused the fury of the secretary of state Villeroy who lambasted how noble feuding compromised the greater interests of the state. Catherine reproached Aumale for his conduct in the campaign, accusing him of incompetence and cowardice. After the crushing royal victory at the
Battle of Moncontour The Battle of Moncontour occurred on 3 October 1569 between the royalist Catholic forces of King Charles IX of France, commanded by Henry, Duke of Anjou, and the Huguenots commanded by Gaspard de Coligny. Battle Weeks before, Coligny had lifted ...
in which the main Protestant army under Coligny was annihilated, Aumale and Marshal Biron were tasked with chasing down several of the routed columns. The columns were however skilfully handled, and they were unable to catch them. Moreover by this point the royal armies under their authority, absent of pay and racked with disease were beginning to disintegrate.


Assassination of the Admiral

Frustrated by the continuity of the feud between Coligny and the Guise despite the supposed termination of the disagreement with the settlement of Moulins. Charles planned in 1571 further efforts to reconcile the two families. In October he summoned Aumale and the two sons of the murdered duke Guise and
Charles, Duke of Mayenne Charles de Lorraine, duc de Mayenne (26 March 1554 –3 October 1611) was a French noble, governor, military commander and rebel during the latter French Wars of Religion. Born in 1554, the second son of François, Duke of Guise, François d ...
to court. Hoping to effect a reconciliation between them and the Admiral, it would not however come to pass and tensions continued to escalate between the families. After exchanging threats of military action, things cooled in 1572. In May 1572 Aumale, Guise and Mayenne formally recognised Coligny's innocence for the assassination of the previous duke of Guise. This represented an arm of Catherine's reconciliation policy, and enabled Coligny to return to court in June. After the attempt on Coligny's life on 22 August 1572, the situation in Paris deteriorated fast, as the Protestant nobles threatened to take justice into their own hands against those they held responsible, namely the Guise family. Aumale and Guise, son of the deceased duke, well aware that their complicity was suspected came to the king and asked him whether they could have permission to depart from court. He replied coldly that he would bring them to justice if the need arose and that they could depart. While the two considered this course of action for a while, they ultimately decided this would be an admission of guilt for the attempt and chose to stay. Catherine de Medici held a council in which it was decided to pre-emptively assassinate the leading Protestants in the city. While the Guise were not involved in these discussions, they were invited to a meeting at 23:00 on 23 August in which the specific list of targets was drawn up. Aumale and Guise were involved in this process alongside
Anjou Anjou may refer to: Geography and titles France *County of Anjou, a historical county in France and predecessor of the Duchy of Anjou **Count of Anjou, title of nobility *Duchy of Anjou, a historical duchy and later a province of France ** Du ...
brother to the king and the king's cousin Louis, Duke of Montpensier, Aumale and Guise were to lead the attack against their hated enemy Coligny and those lodged with him. To this end they were provided with forces of Anjou's personal guard. In the early hours of 24 August Guise rode out with 60 men including Aumale and
Angoulême Angoulême (; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Engoulaeme''; ) is a small city in the southwestern French Departments of France, department of Charente, of which it is the Prefectures of France, prefecture. Located on a plateau overlooking a meander of ...
towards the residence of Coligny. The men waited outside while their subordinates went up and dealt with Coligny. In the following hours militant elements of the population of Paris would jump on the assassinations as an excuse for a general slaughter of Protestants in the city. The party of assassins meanwhile, now finished with Coligny's residence, proceeded to their next target,
Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgomery Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgomery, Lord of Lorges and Ducey (5 May 153026 June 1574), was a French nobleman of Scottish extraction and captain of the Scots Guard of King Henry II of France. He is remembered for mortally injuring Henry II in ...
the former captain of the Scots Guard who had accidentally killed king Henri II in 1559. By now though Paris was descending into chaos, and Montgomery was not unawares to the danger. As such Guise and Aumale were forced into a pursuit, they were unable to catch him and he fled north to Normandie.


Siege of La Rochelle and death

He was killed at the
siege of La Rochelle The siege of La Rochelle (, or sometimes ) was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627–1628. The siege marked the height of Huguenot rebellions, the struggle between ...
on 3 March 1573 during one of the many assaults on the bastion de l'Évangile. The king was conscious that his death at the hands of the Protestants had a serious chance of inflaming religious tensions in the capital again, though order was maintained. He would be buried at Aumale, the first member of the Guise family to have a burial in Normandie since Jean de Lorraine in 1472. His nephew
Charles, Duke of Mayenne Charles de Lorraine, duc de Mayenne (26 March 1554 –3 October 1611) was a French noble, governor, military commander and rebel during the latter French Wars of Religion. Born in 1554, the second son of François, Duke of Guise, François d ...
became governor of Burgundy upon his death, the young duke was determined to have a far more hands on role in the administration of Burgundy than Aumale had done.


References


Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Claude, Duke Of Aumale 1526 births 1573 deaths People from Haute-Marne Aumale, Claude of Guise, duc d' French military personnel killed in action French people of the French Wars of Religion Ancien Régime office-holders 16th-century French people Grand huntsmen of France House of Lorraine House of Guise Princes of Lorraine