Henri, Duke of Guise

Henri of Lorraine, Duke of Guise (31 December 1550 – 23 December 1588) was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este. His maternal grandparents were Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, and Renée of France. Through his maternal grandfather, he was a descendant of Lucrezia Borgia and Pope Alexander VI. A key figure in the French Wars of Religion, he was one of the namesakes of the War of the Three Henrys. A powerful opponent of the queen mother, Catherine de' Medici, Henry was assassinated by the bodyguards of her son, King Henry III.

Marriage
On 4 October 1570 in Paris to Catherine of Cleves (1548–1633), Countess of Eu. They had fourteen children.

Issue

 * 1) Charles, Duke of Guise (1571–1640), who succeeded him.
 * 2) Henri (30 June 1572, Paris – 3 August 1574)
 * 3) Catherine (3 November 1573) (died at birth)
 * 4) Louis III, Cardinal of Guise (1575–1621), Archbishop of Reims
 * 5) Charles (1 January 1576, Paris) (died at birth)
 * 6) Marie (1 June 1577 – 1582)
 * 7) Claude, Duke of Chevreuse (1578–1657) married Marie de Rohan.
 * 8) Catherine (b. 29 May 1579), died young
 * 9) Christine (21 January 1580) (died at birth)
 * 10) François (14 May 1581 – 29 September 1582)
 * 11) Renée (1585 – 13 June 1626, Reims) Abbess of St. Pierre.
 * 12) Jeanne (31 July 1586 – 8 October 1638, Jouarre), Abbess of Jouarre.
 * 13) Louise Marguerite, (1588 – 30 April 1631) married François, Prince of Conti.
 * 14) François Alexandre (7 February 1589 – 1 June 1614, Château des Baux-de-Provence) Knight of the Order of Malta.