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The House of Guise was founded as a branch of the House of Lorraine by Claude de Lorraine, first Duke of Guise ( 1496- 1563), whom King François I made a Duke. Claude's daughter, Mary of Guise (1515-1560), married King James V of Scotland and was mother of Mary Queen of Scots.
In 1558, King François II, married Mary Queen of Scots. By 1559, she had her two powerful uncles of the House of Guise appointed to high positions in the French government. This prompted the Amboise conspiracy in which the Huguenots and the House of BourbonThe House of Bourbon dates from at least the beginning of the 13th century, when the estate of Bourbon was ruled by a Lord, vassal of France. With the course of time, the House of Bourbon would become one of the most powerful ruling families of Europe, wi plotted to usurp the power of the House of Guise. Charles, in his powerful capacity as a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic ChurchThe Roman Catholic Church (often called simply the Catholic Church, but see Catholicism for other meanings of the term "Catholic Church") is a worldwide body of Christians in full communion with the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, and subscribing to the beliefs, controlled French politics during the short reign of the sickly young king, François II.
Championing Catholicism against the Huguenots, in 1560Events February 27 The Treaty of Berhick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland The first tulip bulb was brought from Turkey to the Netherlands. July 6 Treaty of Edinburgh between England, France, the Guise family brutally put down the Conspiracy of Amboise. After King François' death they opposed the more tolerant policy of the RegentFor the insecticide 'Regent', see Regent (insecticide A regent is an acting governor. In a monarchy, a regent usually rules due to the actual monarch's absence, incapacity, or minority. In the case of Finland and Hungary, military officers served as regen, Catherine de Medici, and their doings provoked the French Wars of Religion.
The House of Guise, led by François, defeated the Huguenots at the battle of Dreux , but he was assassinated shortly afterward. His son, Henri de Lorraine, became the third Duke of Guise (1550-1588). He helped plan the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day MassacreBartholomew's Day Massacre was a wave of Catholic mob violence against the Huguenots (French Protestants) starting on August 24, 1572, and lasting for several months. It marked a turning-point in the French Wars of Religion by stiffening Huguenot intransi and was responsible for the formation of the Catholic League. Immensely ambitious, in 1588 he instigated a revolt against King Henri III, taking control of the city of Paris, becoming the de facto king.
After an apparent conciliation, in December of 1588 King Henri III had both Henri de Lorraine and his brother, Louis de Lorraine, Cardinal of Guise (1555-1588), murdered during a meeting in the Royal Chateau at Blois. Leadership of the Catholic League fell to their brother, Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne who was commander of the armed forces of the Catholic League.
After King Henri III, had his brother murdered, the Duke of Mayenne became head of the Catholic League. Although Mayenne and other members of the House of Guise had murdered, tortured and wreaked havoc on the lives of many French citizens, for the sake of the country King Henri IV bought peace with him and in January of 1596 a treaty was signed that put an end to the League.