Francis, Duke of GuiseFrancis, 2nd Duke of Guise - February 24 )
was a French soldier and politician. Guise was the son of Claude
of Guise and his wife Antoinette of Bourbon. His sister Mary of
Guise was wife of James V of Scotland and mother of Mary I of
Scotland. He led the French to victory over Germany at Metz in
1552 and captured Calais from the English in 1558. Along with
his brother Charles of Guise he was powerful in the government
of France during the reign of Francis II. Guise was one of the
leaders of the Catholic faction in the French Wars of Religion,
and his massacre of Huguenots at Wassy-sur-Blaise on March 1,
1562 marked the starting point of that conflict. He was shot by
a Huguenot fanatic at the siege of Orleans on February 18, 1563
and died of his wounds a few days later. He was succeeded by his
son, Henry, 3rd Duke of Guise.