Prince Charles Henry de Lorraine-Vaudemont
Encyclopedia
Charles Henri of Lorraine (ʃaʁl ɑ̃ʁi pʁɛ̃s dy kɔmɛʁsi pʁɛ̃s dy vodemɔ̃) (17 April 1649 – 14 January 1723) was the legitimated son of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine
, and Béatrix de Cusance
. His was given the Principality of Commercy
in 1708 by his cousin Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
. He was also the Count of Falkenstein.
(there had been no children from his first marriage). This second marriage, contracted while Duke Charles was in exile, was not canonically
recognized because the separation between the duke and his first wife, Nicole de Lorraine, was not recognized as a valid annulment
by the Holy See
. Charles Henri's claim to inherit Lorraine was therefore disputed, and rule of the duchy had been obtained by his father's younger brother through French intervention. He was born in Brussels.
On 27 April 1669, in Bar-le-Duc
, he married a cousin, Anne Elisabeth de Lorraine, daughter of Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Elbeuf of the House of Guise
. They had one son, Charles Thomas de Lorraine (1670–1704), who later took his father's non-territorial title, Prince of Vaudémont. This son was killed in battle near Ostiglia
.
In exile like his father, Charles Henri served in the Spanish-Habsburg army against France, fighting in numerous battles. In 1675, he was made a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
. He served in the Nine Years' War in Flanders under William III of England
.
He was attached to the household of le Grand Dauphin
along with his two nieces, the Princess of Epinoy
and Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine
, future Abbess of Remiremont.
In 1698, he was appointed Governor of Milan
.
In 1700, the last Habsburg king of Spain, Charles II
, died. Charles was replaced by Louis XIV's grandson
, Philip, Duke of Anjou
, triggering the War of Spanish Succession in which the territory around Milan was one of the major battlefields.
The Prince of Vaudémont accepted the new king as sovereign of Lombardy
, but he was not trusted: Saint Simon
suggests he passed on military information to the enemy. It is a fact that his son, Charles Thomas, became an Austrian commander.
After the Battle of Turin
, the French and Spanish were forced to withdraw from Italy, and Charles Henri signed a treaty with the Imperial commander, Prince Eugene of Savoy
, putting Lombardy under Austrian rule.
In 1708, the Duke of Lorraine, his cousin Leopold
, gave Charles Henri the minuscule principality of Commercy
. He engaged the famous architect Germain Boffrand
to build the beautiful château de Commercy
. The principality was later given to Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans, widow of Leopold.
Charles Henri de Lorraine died at the château de Commercy at the age of seventy-three, his only son having predeceased him.
Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine
Charles IV was Duke of Lorraine from 1624 to 1634, when he abdicated under French pressure in favor of his younger brother, and again from 1661 until 1675.- Biography :...
, and Béatrix de Cusance
Béatrix de Cusance
Béatrice de Cusance , was a duchess consort of Lorraine; married 1637 to Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine.Issue:*Francis de Lorraine ;...
. His was given the Principality of Commercy
Commercy
Commercy is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the home of the madeleines referred to by Marcel Proust in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.-History:...
in 1708 by his cousin Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
Leopold , surnamed the Good, was Duke of Lorraine and Bar from 1690 to his death.-Early life:Leopold Joseph Charles Dominique Agapet Hyacinthe was the son of Charles V, Duke of Lorraine, and his wife Eleonora Maria Josefa of Austria, a half-sister of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.At the time of...
. He was also the Count of Falkenstein.
Biography
Charles Henri was the third child and only surviving son of the second marriage of Charles IV, Duke of LorraineCharles IV, Duke of Lorraine
Charles IV was Duke of Lorraine from 1624 to 1634, when he abdicated under French pressure in favor of his younger brother, and again from 1661 until 1675.- Biography :...
(there had been no children from his first marriage). This second marriage, contracted while Duke Charles was in exile, was not canonically
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
recognized because the separation between the duke and his first wife, Nicole de Lorraine, was not recognized as a valid annulment
Annulment
Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage null and void. Unlike divorce, it is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the beginning almost as if it had never taken place...
by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. Charles Henri's claim to inherit Lorraine was therefore disputed, and rule of the duchy had been obtained by his father's younger brother through French intervention. He was born in Brussels.
On 27 April 1669, in Bar-le-Duc
Bar-le-Duc
Bar-le-Duc, formerly known as Bar, is a commune in the Meuse département, of which it is the préfecture . The department is in Lorraine in north-eastern France-Geography:...
, he married a cousin, Anne Elisabeth de Lorraine, daughter of Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Elbeuf of the House of Guise
House of Guise
The House of Guise was a French ducal family, partly responsible for the French Wars of Religion.The Guises were Catholic, and Henry Guise wanted to end growing Calvinist influence...
. They had one son, Charles Thomas de Lorraine (1670–1704), who later took his father's non-territorial title, Prince of Vaudémont. This son was killed in battle near Ostiglia
Ostiglia
Ostiglia is a comune in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southeast of Milan and about southeast of Mantua....
.
In exile like his father, Charles Henri served in the Spanish-Habsburg army against France, fighting in numerous battles. In 1675, he was made a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
. He served in the Nine Years' War in Flanders under William III of England
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
.
He was attached to the household of le Grand Dauphin
Louis, Grand Dauphin
Louis of France was the eldest son and heir of Louis XIV, King of France, and his spouse, Maria Theresa of Spain. As the heir apparent to the French throne, he was styled Dauphin...
along with his two nieces, the Princess of Epinoy
Élisabeth Thérèse de Lorraine
Élisabeth de Lorraine-L'islebonne was a French noblewoman and the Princess of Epinoy by marriage. She is often styled as the princesse de Lillebonne...
and Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine
Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine
Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine was a member of the House of Lorraine and was the Abbess of Remiremont. She was a member of the household of Le Grand Dauphin and was the supposed wife of her cousin the Chevalier de Lorraine...
, future Abbess of Remiremont.
In 1698, he was appointed Governor of Milan
Governors of the Duchy of Milan
The Governor of Milan ruled the Duchy of Milan as a representative of the King of Spain and the Archduke of Austria and...
.
In 1700, the last Habsburg king of Spain, Charles II
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
, died. Charles was replaced by Louis XIV's grandson
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, Philip, Duke of Anjou
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
, triggering the War of Spanish Succession in which the territory around Milan was one of the major battlefields.
The Prince of Vaudémont accepted the new king as sovereign of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, but he was not trusted: Saint Simon
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy commonly known as Saint-Simon was a French soldier, diplomatist and writer of memoirs, was born in Paris...
suggests he passed on military information to the enemy. It is a fact that his son, Charles Thomas, became an Austrian commander.
After the Battle of Turin
Battle of Turin
The Siege of Turin was undertaken by the Duke of Orléans and Marshal de la Feuillade between May and September 1706 against the Savoyard city of Turin during the War of the Spanish Succession...
, the French and Spanish were forced to withdraw from Italy, and Charles Henri signed a treaty with the Imperial commander, Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
, putting Lombardy under Austrian rule.
In 1708, the Duke of Lorraine, his cousin Leopold
Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
Leopold , surnamed the Good, was Duke of Lorraine and Bar from 1690 to his death.-Early life:Leopold Joseph Charles Dominique Agapet Hyacinthe was the son of Charles V, Duke of Lorraine, and his wife Eleonora Maria Josefa of Austria, a half-sister of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.At the time of...
, gave Charles Henri the minuscule principality of Commercy
Commercy
Commercy is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the home of the madeleines referred to by Marcel Proust in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.-History:...
. He engaged the famous architect Germain Boffrand
Germain Boffrand
Germain Boffrand was one of the most gifted French architects of his generation. A pupil of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Germain Boffrand was one of the main creators of the precursor to Rococo called the style Régence, and in his interiors, of the Rococo itself...
to build the beautiful château de Commercy
Château de Commercy
The Château de Commercy is a castle in the town of Commercy, in the Meuse department of France. It was the principal residence of the reigning Prince of Commercy and was built by Charles Henri de Lorraine...
. The principality was later given to Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans, widow of Leopold.
Charles Henri de Lorraine died at the château de Commercy at the age of seventy-three, his only son having predeceased him.
Issue
- Charles Thomas de Lorraine, Prince of Vaudémont (7 March 1670 – 12 May 1704) died unmarried.
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 17 April 1649 – 7 March 1670 His Highness the Count of Vaudémont
- 7 March 1670 – 31 December 1707 His Highness the Prince of Vaudémont
- 31 December 1707 – 14 January 1723 His Highness the Prince of Commercy