Online Encyclopedia
Duke of Lorraine
The Duchy of Lorraine was an independent state for most of the period of time between 843 to 1739. The Duchy, as well as the modern region of Lorraine, was the focus of centuries of dispute between France and Germany.
In the early period, Lorraine was known as Kingdom of Lotharingia, ruled by members of the Carolingian French dynasty. At some time, during the 10th century, Lorraine was divided in Upper and Lower region. The Dukes of Lower Lorraine abandoned this style in favour of Duke of Brabant. The Upper Lorraine part was known simply as Lorraine and its rulers are listed below.
The House of Guise, who played an important role in the Wars of Religion of the 16th century is a junior branch of the House of Lorraine. The last duke of Lorraine, Francis III, abdicated from his possessions in 1737 in order to become Emperor of Austria, by is marriage with Maria Theresa of Austria. The next and last Duke of Lorraine was Stanislaus Leszczynski, former king of Poland. On his death, Lorraine reverted to king Louis XV of France, his son in law. From then on, the Duchy of Lorraine changed several times between German and French dominion, the last of which at the end of the Second World War.
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Kings of Lotharingia
- Lothar I (r. 843-855), also Holy Roman Emperor and King of Italy and Bavaria
- Lothar II (r. 855 869)
Dukes of Lorraine
First rulers
- Reginald I (r. 900-911) styled Duke of Lotharingia
- Giselbert (r. 924 939) styled Duke of Lotharingia
- Henry I (r. 939 944)
- Conrad, the Red (r. 944 953)
- Bruno (r. 953 959), also Archbishop of Kφln
- Friedrich I (r. 959 978)
- Thierry I (r. 978 1027)
- Friedrich II (r. 1027 1033)
- Gothelo, the Great (r. 1033 1044)
- Godfrey, the Bearded (r. 1044 1046)
House of Ardennes (Metz)
- Adalbert (r. 1047 1048)
- Gerhard of Metz (r. 1048 1070)
- Thierry II (r. 1070 1115)
- Simon I (r. 1115 1138)
- Matthias I (r. 1138 1176)
- Simon II (r. 1176 1205)
- Frederick I (r. 1205 1206)
- Frederick II (r. 1206 1213)
- Theobald I (r. 1213 1220)
- Matthias II (r. 1220 1251)
- Frederick III (r. 1251 1302)
- Theobald II (r. 1302 1312)
- Frederick IV (r. 1302 1329)
- Rudolph (r. 1329 1346)
- John I (r. 1346 1390)
- Charles I (r. 1390 1431)
-
Isabella (r. 1431 1453)
- with her husband Renι, Duke of Anjou and King of Naples
House of Anjou
- John II of Anjou (r. 1453 1470), also King of Naples
- Nicholas I of Anjou (r. 1470 1473)
House of Vaudemont
Junior branch of the previous rulers of Ardennes-Metz
- Renι II (r. 1473 1508), also Duke of Bar
- Antoine, the Good (r. 1508 1544)
- Francis I (r. 1544 1545)
- Charles II (r. 1545 1608)
- Henry I, the Good (r. 1608 1624)
- Francis II (r. 1624 1632)
- Charles III (r. 1632 1634)
- Nicholas II (r. 1634 1661)
-
Charles IV Leopold (r. 1661 1669)
- From 1669 to 1697, Lorraine is under French control
- Leopold Joseph (r. 1697 1702 and 1714 1729; in between Lorraine is again under France)
- Francis III Stephen (r. 1729 1737) in 1745 he became Holy Roman Emperor
House of Leszczyński
-
Stanislaus Leszczyński (r. 1737 1766) former king of Poland
- after him, the Duchy is inherited by his son in law, king Louis XV of France and incorporated in his dominions
See also
External link
Genealogy of the Dukes of Lorraine