Nicolas, Duke of Mercœur

Nicolas
Duke of Mercœur
Spouse	Marguerite d'Egmont Joanna of Savoy Catherine Romula de Lorraine
Issue
Louise, Queen of France Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur
Full name
Nicolas de Lorraine
Father	Antoine, Duke of Lorraine
Mother	Renée of Bourbon
Born	16 October 1524(1524-10-16) Bar-le-Duc, France
Died	23 February 1577(1577-02-23) (aged 52)

Nicolas de Lorraine, Duke of Mercœur (16 October 1524 – 23 January 1577) was the second son of Antoine, Duke of Lorraine and Renée of Bourbon.

Biography

He was originally destined for an ecclesiastical career, being made bishop of Metz in 1543 and Verdun in 1544. In June 1545, he became joint "tutor and administrator" for his nephew, Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, with his sister-in-law Christina of Denmark. However, the Estates of Lorraine, in November 1545, removed him in favor of a sole regency by Christina. He opposed the pro-Imperial politics of Christina, and he took the title of Count of Vaudémont and resigned his bishoprics in 1548, in favor of his uncle John, Cardinal of Lorraine.

After the seizure of the Three Bishoprics in 1552 by Henry II of France, he was re-appointed as sole regent for his nephew, a position he maintained until 1559.

In 1551, Nomeny was detached from the Bishopric of Metz and given to him, and he was created Marquis of Nomeny by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor in 1567. In France, he was honored by the elevation of his mother's barony of Mercœur^{[disambiguation needed ]} to a principality in 1563 and a peerage duchy in 1569; he was also created a knight of the Order of Saint Esprit.

He married thrice. His first marriage was on 1 May 1549 in Brussels, to Marguerite d'Egmont (1517 – 10 March 1554, Bar-le-Duc), daughter of count Jean IV of Egmont. By her he had one son and three daughters:

1. Marguerite de Lorraine (b. 9 February 1550), d. young.
2. Catherine de Lorraine (b. 26 February 1551, Nomeny), d. young.
3. Henri de Lorraine (b. 9 April 1552, Nomeny) Count of Chaligny, d. young.
4. Louise de Lorraine (30 April 1553, Nomeny – 29 January 1601, Château de Moulins), married on 13 February 1575, at Reims, Henry III of France.

His second marriage was on 24 February 1555 at Fontainebleau, to Joanna of Savoy (1532–1568), daughter of Philippe, Duke of Nemours. By this marriage he had four sons and two daughters:

1. Philippe Emmanuel de Lorraine (1558–1602).
2. Charles de Lorraine (20 April 1561, Nomeny – 29 October 1587, Paris), Cardinal of Vaudémont, Bishop of Toul and Verdun.
3. Jean de Lorraine (b. 14 September 1563, Château de Deneuvre), d. young.
4. Marguerite de Lorraine (14 May 1564, Nomeny – 20 September 1625), married on 24 September 1581 in Paris Annas, Duc de Joyeuse (1561–1587), married on 31 May 1599 François de Luxemburg, Duc de Piney (d. 1613).
5. Claude de Lorraine (b. 12 April 1566, Nomeny), d. young.
6. François de Lorraine (15 September 1567 – 1596, Châtel-sur-Moselle), Marquis of Chaussin.

His third marriage was on 11 May 1569 at Reims, to Catherine Romula de Lorraine (1550–1606), daughter of Claude, Duke of Aumale. By her he had three sons and two daughters:

1. Henri de Lorraine (31 July 1570, Nancy – 26 October 1600, Vienna), Marquis of Mouy and Count of Chaligny, married on 19 September 1585 Claude de Mouy.
2. Christine de Lorraine (b. 24 September 1571, Château de Koeurs), d. young.
3. Antoine de Lorraine (27 August 1572 – 1587, Mainz), Abbot of Beaulieu^{[disambiguation needed ]} and Bishop of Toul.
4. Louise de Lorraine (b. 27 March 1575, Nancy), d. young.
5. Eric de Lorraine (14 March 1576 – 27 April 1623), Bishop of Verdun.

Preceded by elevated from Barony	Prince of Mercœur 1563 – 1569	Succeeded by elevated to Duke
Preceded by Antoine	Count of Vaudémont 1548 – 1577 With: Charles III	Succeeded by Charles III
Preceded by —	Marquis of Nomeny 1567 – 1577	Succeeded by Philippe Emmanuel
Preceded by elevated from Principality	Duke of Mercœur 1569 – 1577

Persondata
Name	Lorraine-Mercour, Nicholas Of, Duke Of Mercour
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	16 October 1524
Place of birth	Bar-le-Duc, France
Date of death	23 February 1577
Place of death