Catholic League 1576

a union of part of the French Catholic clergy and gentry during the religious wars. The head of the Catholic League was Henry, Duke of Guise. It was established in May 1576 supposedly to combat the Huguenots. The real purpose of the league was the limitation of the royal power by the feudal aristocracy (which had seized the dominant position in the league) and the weakening of centralization. Late in 1576 the Catholic League in effect disintegrated. It was reestablished in 1585.