Who is afraid of the duc de Guise? Henri III and the beginning of the noble branch of the Catholic League in 1585

Abstract In March 1585, the creation of the noble branch of the Catholic League and the Guise call to arms were prepared so secretly that Henri III was taken unawares. This might seem surprising to historians. After all, the Guise family had played a central role in French political life since the start of the Wars of Religion and their political ambitions were regularly denounced by their opponents. Ever present in the interpretations of the events highlighted by historians who have been influenced by the political rhetoric of the time, the Guise did not, however, represent the main threat in the eyes of the government authorities in March 1585. Rather than a secretive, transnational uprising led by the Guise, this article argues that the monarchy primarily feared a traditional noble revolt led by the duc de Montmorency, governor of Languedoc, which explains the surprise of the king at the start of this Catholic League and his unreadiness to face this threat.