Henry II, Duke of Guise

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Henry II, 5th Duke of Guise (Paris, April 4, 1614 – June 2, 1664, Paris) was the second son of Charles, Duke of Guise and Henriette Catherine de Joyeuse.

At the age of 15, he became archbishop of Rheims, but the death of his eldest brother Francis in 1639 placed him in the dukedom the following year. He opposed Richelieu, and conspired with the count of Soissons, fighting in the Battle of La Marfée in 1641. For this, he was condemned to death, but fled to Flanders in 1641. Reprieved, he returned in 1643.

Hoping to make good his family's ancient pretensions to the Kingdom of Naples, he joined the revolt of Masaniello in 1647. The "Royal Republic of Naples" was declared, appealing to the protection of France and nominally headed by Guise (entitled doge in imitation of Venice). However, the tactless Guise rapidly alienated the Neapolitans, and wielded little influence with Cardinal Mazarin. He was captured by the Spaniards in 1648 when the republic fell, and held by them until 1652. He made a second attack on Naples in 1654, but it ended in failure, in part due to the presence of an English fleet under Robert Blake.

Afterwards, he settled in Paris, becoming Grand Chamberlain of France to Louis XIV.

He was succeeded by his nephew Louis Joseph, Duke of Joyeuse.

Preceded by Charles	Duke of Guise Prince of Joinville 1640–1664	Succeeded by Louis Joseph
	Count of Eu 1640–1654	Succeeded by Louis

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia.