la Ligrue, les Guise : the League had been formed by

Henry, duke of Guise, against Henry III. of France, with the ostensible object of supporting the Catholic religion ; but what the duke really wanted was to obtain the throne for himself. He was, however, murdered at Blois in 1588 with his brother Louis, at the king's instigation. The league then declared the throne vacant, and named his third brother, the duke of Mayenne, governor-general of the kingdom. Henry III. was Eoon after assassinated by a leaguer (1589), and the war was continued against Henry of Navarre until he joined the Catholic Church in 1593.