ABSTRACT
In the autumn of 1654, Henri II de Lorraine, fifth duke of Guise, staged an ambitious return to the kingdom of Naples. His previous excursion there, during the Revolt of 1647–48, had been as a rash opportunist, having interceded in the popular tumult and been fortunate to receive French support post facto. In 1654, by contrast, Henri was appointed in advance by Louis XIV to lead a carefully planned intervention. This second project was the product of Guise's enduring personal aspirations and Cardinal Mazarin's long-standing obsession with Naples, which he saw as a weak link in the Spanish monarchy's disparate possessions. The hopes of both men were emboldened by the petitions of the many Neapolitan malcontents who occupied the peripheries of the French court.
