Henri de Silly

Upon Anjou's return to France as Henri III, the duc de Nevers who had been a long time companion of the prince felt as if he had been cut out of access to royal patronage in favour of new men. When considering those he could still rely on to support him at court he named Schomberg, Malicorne, and La Roche-Guyon among others. All these men were on the periphery of the king's circle of intimates.^[13]

Around 1575 La Roche-Guyon was serving as a écuyer or échanson (squire or cupbearer) to the king. Over the coming years he exchanged this office for the more prestigious office of gentilhomme de la chambre du roi (gentleman of the king's chamber).^[14]

La Roche-Guyon was alienated from the king over the marriage of Saint-Luc and Jeanne de Cossé, daughter of Marshal Cossé in February 1578. She had been promised for marriage to La Roche-Guyon and therefore furious he turned against the crown.^[15] La Roche-Guyon was indignant that she had been given to a man of lower social status with the attention of aggrandising the standing of a royal favourite. La Roche-Guyon then insulted the king, Jeanne and Saint-Luc, and departed from court. He would not return until 1585.^[3]

During December 1578 La Roche-Guyon was raising troops near Rouen. He had them swear oaths of loyalty to Alençon, and prepared for a campaign into Nederland (though the oath made some fear they were intended to be the basis of a new ligue). These forces were ill disciplined and caused grief among the peasantry.^[6] Alençon arrived in Normandie in January 1579, his 1578 expedition to Nederland a failure.^[16]

In March 1579 Henri made concessions to the Norman Estates, offering a small reduction in the taille and a confirmation of their charter, however this failed to sooth things.^[6]

In August Alençon departed for England, but he left his Norman clients behind.^[16]

Through 1579, Catherine was working in southern France to try to bring the situation with the baron de Bellegarde under control.^[17] Upon her return northwards she found disorders had broken out in the north. In lower Normandie the peasantry had entered rebellion, Rouen had rioted and several lords (La Roche-Guyon, Chantelou and Pont-Bellenger) were rumoured to be planning to kidnap the king while he was staying at Saint-Germain.^[18] It was alleged that all these disorders were the work of the agents of the duc d'Alençon who wished to distract Spanish attention from his plans to restart campaigning into Nederland.^[19]

Henri issued an arrest warrant for La Roche-Guyon, Chantelou and Pont-Bellenger on the grounds of how they had acted during the provincial Estates, and raising of soldiers. La Roche-Guyon was further accused by the king of having attempted to seize Rouen and have him poisoned.^[16] Chantelou and La Roche-Guyon were abandoned by Alençon to their fate, and fled to La Roche-Guyon's estates in Lorraine.^[16]

It was decided that it would be necessary to disperse the lords who were gathering under La Roche-Guyon in Champagne. At this time the prince de Condé had also seized La Fère and Catherine departed to Picardie to try to talk him down from provoking a new Catholic backlash by his provocative acts.^[20]

La Roche-Guyon travelled to Nancy where the duc de Lorraine was hosting festivals and banquets. Henri desired to pursue the rebellious malcontent, but was dissuaded by Catherine from pursuing this course.^[18] Also present in Nancy was the Protestant mercenary leader Pfalz-Simmern who was owed significant sums of money by France for his involvement in the Fifth French War of Religion in 1575, which the crown struggled to pay, and therefore he continually menaced the kingdom with invasion.^[18] He entered into discussions first with the duc de Mayenne to discuss a project to seize Strasbourg. La Roche-Guyon and his party of 'malcontents' were also a potential sponsor for Pfalz-Simmern's future plans, and the latter undertook interviews with the baron de Rosne, a confident of Alençons and Bassompierre to discuss potential projects.^[21] In discussions between La Roche-Guyon and Pfalz-Simmern, La Roche-Guyon proposed that he provide his lands of Commercy (worth around 200,000 écus (crowns)) to the German captain, in return for which Pfalz-Simmern would raise an army for him of men on foot and on horse.^[18] Much like the baron de Rosne, La Roche-Guyon was both a servant of Alençon and Guise, prepared to serve both in any operations.^[22]

It was agreed eventually that in return for receipt of several cities, Pfalz-Simmern would invade France with 5000 reiters, while La Roche-Guyon would raise gentleman in Normandie in support of the project. The secrecy in which the negotiations were conducted have left historians confused as to the specifics of the arrangements. In the event, a month passed without any action, with the attempt on Strasbourg failing.^[23]

With the Catholic ligue (League) entering a state of war with the crown in 1585, La Roche-Guyon and the seigneur de Chantelou rallied to the cause, lacking an alternative royal patron. They joined the army of the duc d'Elbeuf which was assembling in the province of Normandie.^[24] On 5 April Elbeuf's army left Caen and marched on Bayeux, where he set himself up until 9 April.^[25] In May the ligueur (leaguer) army marched to join the ligueur comte de Brissac at Angers, but was intercepted by the royal favourite Anne de Joyeuse at Beaugency in a skirmish which the royalists came out the better of. Despite this, Henri capitulated to the ligue on 7 July, agreeing to outlaw Protestantism and granted the members of the Lorraine family who led the organisation various surety towns.^[26]

On 31 December 1585 La Roche-Guyon was inducted into the royal chivalric orders. This meant that he became a chevalier (knight) of the Ordre de Saint-Michel (Order of Saint-Michel) and the Ordre du Saint-Esprit (Order of Saint-Esprit).^[1]

La Roche-Guyon died in 1586.^[8]

• Babelon, Jean-Pierre (2009). Henri IV. Fayard.
• Carroll, Stuart (2005). Noble Power during the French Wars of Religion: The Guise Affinity and Catholic Cause in Normandy. Cambridge University Press.
• Cloulas, Ivan (1979). Catherine de Médicis. Fayard.
• Constant, Jean-Marie (1984). Les Guise. Hachette.
• Constant, Jean-Marie (1996). La Ligue. Fayard.
• Knecht, Robert (2016). Hero or Tyrant? Henry III, King of France, 1574-1589. Routledge.
• Le Roux, Nicolas (2000). La Faveur du Roi: Mignons et Courtisans au Temps des Derniers Valois. Champ Vallon.
• Sainte-Marie, Anselme (1733). Histoire généalogique et chronologique de la maison royale de France, des pairs, grands officiers de la Couronne, de la Maison du Roy et des anciens barons du royaume.... Tome 9. la compagnie des libraires.