Mayenne, Charles de Lorraine, duc de, 1554-1611, French Catholic general in the Wars of Religion (see Religion, Wars of); brother of Henri, 3d duc de Guise, and Louis de Lorraine, Cardinal de Guise. After the murder of his brothers (1588), he became the head of the Catholic League. Defeated by King Henry IV of France at Arques (1589) and Ivry (1590), he nevertheless raised Henry's siege of Paris (1590). For a time he wielded almost royal power over the parts of France that supported the League. He became estranged from the pro-Spanish faction, which supported the claim to the French crown of the Spanish infanta Isabella, a granddaughter of King Henry II of France. In 1596, Mayenne made his final peace with Henry IV, who had previously abjured Protestantism.

Mayenne, department (1990 pop. 278,037), NW France, in parts of Maine and Anjou. It is an agricultural region. Laval is the capital.

Mayenne (majɛn) is a department in northwest France named after the Mayenne River.

History

Mayenne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It constitutes the western part of the former province of Maine.

Geography

Mayenne is part of the current region of Pays de la Loire and is surrounded by the departments of Manche, Orne, Sarthe, Maine-et-Loire, and Ille-et-Vilaine.

Demographics

The inhabitants of the department are called Mayennais. This demonym is not the source of the word mayonnaise.

See also

• Cantons of the Mayenne department
• Communes of the Mayenne department
• Arrondissements of the Mayenne department

External links

• Mayenne - essential information in English
• Prefecture website
• General council website