Charles III, Duke of Lorraine

Charles III
Duke of Lorraine
Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, studio of François Clouet, oil on panel
Born 18 February 1543
Ducal Palace of Nancy
Died 14 May 1608(1608-05-14) (aged 65)
Spouse Claude of France
Issue Henry II, Duke of Lorraine
Christina, Grand Duchess of Tuscany
Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine
Antoinette, Duchess of Jülich-Cleves-Berg
Francis II, Duke of Lorraine
Catherine, Abbess of Remiremont
Elisabeth, Electress of Bavaria
House Lorraine
Father Francis I, Duke of Lorraine
Mother Christina of Denmark
Religion Roman Catholicism

Charles III (18 February 1543 – 14 May 1608), known as the Great,[1] was Duke of Lorraine from 1545 until his death.

Life

He was the eldest surviving son of Francis I, Duke of Lorraine,[1] and Christina of Denmark.

In 1545, his father died, and his mother served as the regent during his minority. During his childhood, his aged great-grandmother, Philippa of Gelderland, died in 1547, leaving also her inheritance to the young Charles. His dynasty claimed the Kingdom of Jerusalem and used also the title of Duke of Calabria as symbol of their claims to the Kingdom of Naples. Additionally, they had a claim to the Duchy of Gelderland, inherited from Charles of Egmont, Duke of Gelderland.

In 1552, Lorraine was invaded by France, his mother's regency was terminated and Charles was removed from Lorraine to France, to be raised at the French royal court in accordance to the needs of French interests. In 1559, he was married to Claude of France, and allowed to depart to Lorraine and take control of his domain.

The reign of Charles III is regarded as a great age of peace and prosperity for Lorraine. He pursued a policy of strict neutrality between France and The Holy German Empire, as well as during the French Wars of Religion. He founded the University of Pount-a-Mousson. He also expanded his realm by the incorporation of Pfalzburg from George John I, Count Palatine of Veldenz in 1590, and tried to conquer also Lützelstein, though George John I's widow, Anna of Sweden, managed to negotiate a truce.

In 1589, he broke his policy of neutrality and allied himself with the French Catholic Ligue because he, as a Catholic, could not accept Henry of Navarre as king of France. In his peace with Henry in 1594, he married his son to Henry's sister Catherine de Bourbon.

Family

He married Claude of Valois, princess of France, daughter of king Henry II and Catherine de' Medici. He had the following children:

Ancestors

Charles III's ancestors in three generations
Charles III, Duke of Lorraine Father:
Francis I, Duke of Lorraine		 Paternal Grandfather:
Antoine, Duke of Lorraine		 Paternal Great-grandfather:
René II, Duke of Lorraine
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Philippa of Guelders
Paternal Grandmother:
Renée of Bourbon-Montpensier		 Paternal Great-grandfather:
Gilbert, Count of Montpensier
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Chiara Gonzaga
Mother:
Christina of Denmark		 Maternal Grandfather:
Christian II of Denmark		 Maternal Great-grandfather:
John of Denmark
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Christina of Saxony
Maternal Grandmother:
Isabella of Austria		 Maternal Great-grandfather:
Philip I of Castile
Maternal Great-grandmother:
Joanna of Castile

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Charles III. or II. (Duke of Lorraine)". Encyclopædia Britannica. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 934.
  • Henry Bogdan, La Lorraine des ducs, sept siècles d'histoire, Perrin, 2005 [détail des éditions] ( ISBN 2-262-02113-9)
Preceded by
Francis I		 Duke of Lorraine and Bar
Marquis of Pont-à-Mousson
1545-1608		 Succeeded by
Henry II
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