Duchy of Lorraine - Definition and Overview

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 penultimate duke of Lorraine, Francis III, abdicated from his possessions in 1737 in order to become Emperor of Austria, by his marriage with Maria Theresa of Austria. The 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.

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 Köln
• 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 René, 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

• René 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)
• Charles III (r. 1624 – 1634)
• Nicholas II (r. 1634 – 1661)
• Charles III (r. 1661 - 1669)
  • From 1669 to 1697, Lorraine is under French control. Titular Dukes:
    • Charles III 1669-1675
    • Charles IV 1675-1690
    • Leopold Joseph 1690-1697
• 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

• Lorraine – Dukes of Lorraine family tree
• Duchy of Guise

External links

• Genealogy of the Dukes of Lorraine (http://genealogy.euweb.cz/index.html)