fjt_01227 - DUCHY OF LORRAINE - CHARLES III LE GRAND DUC CHARLES III LE GRAND DUC 1570

DUCHY OF LORRAINE - CHARLES III THE GREAT DUKE

(1545-1608)

Charles III (1543-1608) is the son of François Ier (1544 -1545) and Christine of Denmark, the niece of Charles V. He was born in Nancy on February 18, 1543 and died there on May 14, 1608. Succeeding his father on June 12, 1545 under the regency of his mother, he was declared of age in 1555 and married Claude de France, the daughter of Henri II, in 1560. He tried to maintain strict neutrality between France and the Empire. Deeply Catholic, he fought fiercely against Protestantism. With the accession of François II and Marie Stuart, Guise by his mother, Charles enjoys a great credit at the court of France which is maintained under Charles IX. He founded the academy of Pont-à-Mousson and decided that the year would begin on January 1 from 1580. He embellished Nancy. From 1584, he joined the Holy League in order to overthrow his brother-in-law Henri III by helping and financing his cousin the Duke of Guise. After the death of Guise, then Henri III, he supported the Duke of Mayenne and signed peace with Henri IV in 1595. Henri, son of Charles, married Catherine de Bourbon, sister of Henri IV, in 1598. Charles died in 1608 in a peaceful Lorraine.