Charles, Duke of Guise
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Charles, 4th Duke of Guise (Joinville, August 20, 1571 – Cuna, September 30, 1640) was the son of Henry I, Duke of Guise and Catherine of Cleves.
Originally styled the Chevalier de Guise, he succeeded as Duke of Chevreuse upon the death of his great-uncle Charles of Guise, Cardinal of Lorraine, a title he later resigned to his brother Claude.
After his father's assassination in 1588, he succeeded him as Duke of Guise, but was kept in prison in the Château de Tours for three years, escaping in 1591. While the Catholic League had great hopes for him, and considered placing him on the throne, he declared his support for Henry IV of France in 1594, for which Henry paid him four million livres and made him Governor of Provence. In 1595, he captured Marseilles from the Duc d'Épernon, who held it for the League.
He was later created Grand Master of France and Admiral of the Levant.
Falling into disfavor with Cardinal Richelieu for siding with Marie de' Medici, he went to Italy in 1631, and died there in 1640.
On January 6, 1611, he married Henriette Catherine de Joyeuse, duchesse de Joyeuse (January 8, 1585 – February 25, 1656), and they had seven children:
- François (April 3, 1612 – December 7, 1639), Prince of Joinville
- Henry II, Duke of Guise (1614–1664), also Archbishop of Reims
- Marie, Duchess of Guise (1615–1688)
- Charles Louis (July 15, 1618 – March 15, 1637, Florence), styled Duke of Joyeuse
- Louis, Duke of Joyeuse (1622–1664), also Duke of Angoulême
- Françoise Renée (January 10, 1621 – December 4, 1682, Montmartre), Abbess of Montmartre
- Roger (March 21, 1624 – September 9, 1653), called the Chevalier de Joinville and later the Chevalier de Guise, Knight of the Order of Malta, killed at Cambrai
| Preceded by Charles I |
Duke of Chevreuse 1574–1606 |
Succeeded by Claude |
| Preceded by Henry I |
Duke of Guise Prince of Joinville Count of Eu 1588–1640 |
Succeeded by Henry II |
| Preceded by Henriette Catherine |
Duke of Joyeuse with Henriette Catherine 1611–1640 |
Succeeded by Louis |
