Charles III, Duke of Lorraine

Charles III
Duke of Lorraine
Charles III, copper engraving by Dominicus Custos, 1600/02
Spouse	Princess Claude of France
Issue
Henri, Duke of Lorraine Christina, Grand Duchess of Tuscany Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine Antoinette, Duchess of Jülich-Cleves-Berg Francis, Duke of Lorraine Catherine, Duchess of Nevers Catherine, Abbess of Remiremont Elisabeth Renata, Electress of Bavaria
Father	Francis I, Duke of Lorraine
Mother	Princess Christina of Denmark
Born	18 February 1543 Ducal Palace of Nancy
Died	14 May 1608(1608-05-14) (aged 66)

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.

He is sometimes numbered as Charles II of Lorraine.

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

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 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 (1569–1676)
• 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 Lorraine	Father: Francis I, Duke of Lorraine	Paternal Grandfather: Antoine, Duke of Lorraine	Paternal Great-grandfather: René II, Duke of Lorraine
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Phillipa 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

Kingdom of France portal

• Dukes of Lorraine family tree

Preceded by Francis I

Duke of Lorraine and Bar and Marquis of Pont-à-Mousson 1545-1608

Succeeded by Henry I

Persondata
Name	Charles Iii, Duke Of Lorraine
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	18 February 1542
Place of birth	Ducal Palace of Nancy
Date of death	14 May 1608
Place of death