Francis II, Duke of Lorraine

Francis II
Duke of Lorraine Count of Vaudémont
Born	(1572-02-27)27 February 1572 Ducal Palace of Nancy
Died	14 October 1632(1632-10-14) (aged 60) Badonviller, France
Spouse	Christina of Salm
Issue	Charles, Duke of Lorraine Henriette, Princess of Lexin Nicolas, Duke of Lorraine Marguerite, Duchess of Orléans
Full name French: François de Lorraine English: Francis of Lorraine
House	House of Lorraine
Father	Charles III, Duke of Lorraine
Mother	Princess Claude of France

Francis II (François de Lorraine; 27 February 1572 – 14 October 1632) was the son of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine and Claude of Valois. He was Duke of Lorraine briefly in 1625, quickly abdicating in favour of his son.

Biography

The youngest son of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, and his wife Claude of France, he was styled the Count of Vaudémont during his father's reign (1545–1608) as well as during that of his older brother Henry II (1608–1624). His father appointed him as his deputy (Lieutenant General) of Lorraine, while in 1594 he was out of the country.

That same year he was Lieutenant General of the French king in Toul and Verdun. From September to October 1606 he was in his father's diplomatic mission in England. In 1621 he fell out with his brother Henry II, who had become duke in 1608, and went to Germany for the emperor to fight the Protestants.

The reason for the rift was Henry's intention to have Francis's son Charles marry Henry II's daughter Nicolette of Lorraine and to leave Lorraine to her, even though the will of Duke René II had provided for a strictly male succession. Henry and his wife Margherita Gonzaga had only had daughters. After negotiations, the issue was then resolved and the marriage took place but the couple did not have any children and the duchy was to revert to Francis' other son, the future Nicholas II, Duke of Lorraine.

Engraving of his wife, Christina of Salm.

After Francis' brother died on 31 July 1624, the situation became complicated; Henry's final rules specified that Charles could only be the Duke of Lorraine as Nicolette's husband.

In November 1625, however, it was Francis himself who became the ruler of Lorraine. Having claimed the duchy for himself, he got it on 21 November 1625 from the duchy's States General.

After he had paid the duchy's debt out of its treasury five days later, he abdicated in favour of his son, who by then had pushed aside his wife and who then ruled in his own right.

In his will, Francis stated that he "never had ambitions to wear a crown in this world". After his abdication, Francis II took on the management of the county of Vaudémont. He died less than a year later.

Family

He married Christina of Salm and had the following issue:

1. Henri de Lorraine, Marquis of Hattonchâtel (1602–1611) died young;
2. Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Lorraine (1604–1675) married Nicolette of Lorraine, no issue; married (bigamously) Béatrix de Cusance and had issue;
3. Henriette de Lorraine (1605–1660), married Louis de Lorraine, Prince of Lexin, son of Louis II, Cardinal of Guise, no issue;
4. Nicolas, Duke of Lorraine (1609–1670), married Claude de Lorraine and had issue;
5. Marguerite de Lorraine (1615–1672), married Gaston de France, Duke of Orléans and had issue;
6. Christine de Lorraine (1621–1622) died in infancy.

Ancestry

Titles and styles

• 27 February 1572 – 25 November 1625 His Highness the Count of Vaudémont
• 25 November 1625 – 1 December 1625 His Highness the Duke of Lorraine
• 1 December 1625 – 14 October 1632 His Highness the Count of Vaudémont

References