Guy XVI de Laval
Guy XVI, Count of Laval, Mayenne (1 October 1476 – 20 May 1531) was a member of the House of Laval. He was christened Nicolas, but upon inheriting the title, he took the required name of Guy, as his predecessors had done. He was the son of Jean de Laval, who was the brother of Guy XV and the son of Guy XIV and Isabella of Brittany. Career and court He was born Nicolas de Laval, lord of La Roche-Bernard. He spent much of his youth at the court of his kinsman, Francis II, Duke of Brittany, where he became close with the Duke's daughter, Anne. When Francis died and Anne married Charles VIII of France, Nicolas followed her to the royal court, where they remained close. The queen became godmother to his daughter Anne. Guy XVI served the Kings of France with distinction throughout his career. This included service as the Lieutenant General (from 1517), Governor (from 1525), and Admiral of Brittany, where many of his lands were. Guy XVI frequently corresponded with his brother-in-law, Anne de Montmorency to gain insight and favors at the royal court. Guy XVI maintained a large court of lesser nobles from throughout France