Charles III, Duke of Lorraine

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.

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 (1569–1576)
 * 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.