The article is devoted to one of the most significant battles of France with Emperor Charles V. It is about the defence of Metz, which had both practical and symbolic significance in the context of the confrontation between the ‘Most Christian King’ and the Emperor. Francis of Lorraine, Duke de Guise, who led the defence of Metz, saw it as an opportunity not only to serve the crown but also, if victorious, to strengthen his political position at court. The sources demonstrate how the duke combined a pragmatic attitude to the conduct of affairs with a desire to create the right impression and how careful he was about his public image. The successful defence of Metz was one of the key events that made the commander famous.
François de Guise; Metz; Lorraine; Henri II; 16thcentury French art.