Charles III, Duke of Lorraine

Was Duke of Lorraine from 1545
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroWas Duke of Lorraine from 1545
A.K.A.Charles III
A.K.A.Charles III
PlacesFrance
wasMonarch
Work fieldRoyals
Gender
Male
Birth18 February 1543, Nancy, arrondissement of Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Grand Est
Death14 May 1608Nancy, arrondissement of Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Grand Est (aged 65 years)
Family
Mother:Christina of Denmark
Father:Francis I, Duke of Lorraine
Siblings:Renata of Lorraine Dorothea of Lorraine
Spouse:Claude of Valois
Children:Henry II Duke of Lorraine Christina of Lorraine Francis II Duke of Lorraine Catherine of Lorraine Elisabeth of Lorraine Charles of Lorraine Antonia of Lorraine Charles de Remoncourt
The details

Biography

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

History

He was the eldest surviving son of Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, and Christina of Denmark. His mother served as the regent during his minority.

During his childhood, his aged great-grandmother, Philippa of Gelderland, died in 1547, leaving 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.

Family

Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, studio of François Clouet, oil on panel, 32.3 x 23 cm

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

  • Henry II, Duke of Lorraine (1563–1624) married Catherine de Bourbon and Margerita Gonzaga
  • Christine (1565–1637), married Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
  • Charles (1567–1607), Cardinal of Lorraine and Bishop of Metz (1578–1607), Bishop of Strasbourg (1604–1607)
  • Antoinette (1568–1610), married John William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
  • Anne (1569–1576)
  • Francis II, Duke of Lorraine (1572–1632) married Christina of Salm
  • Catherine (1573 † 1648), Abess de Remiremont
  • Elisabeth Renata (1574–1635), married Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria
  • Claude, 1575-1576.

Ancestors

Charles III's ancestors in three generations
Charles III, Duke of LorraineFather:
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
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