Henry II, Duke of Lorraine

Henry II "the Good"
Duke of Lorraine
Born	8 November 1563 Ducal Palace of Nancy, Lorraine
Died	31 July 1624 (aged 60) Ducal Palace of Nancy, Lorraine
Spouse	Catherine de Bourbon Margherita Gonzaga
Issue	Nicole, Duchess of Lorraine Claude, Duchess of Lorraine
Full name Henri
House	House of Lorraine
Father	Charles III, Duke of Lorraine
Mother	Claude of France

Henry II (French: Henri II; 8 November 1563 – 31 July 1624), known as "the Good (le Bon)", was Duke of Lorraine from 1608 until his death. Leaving no sons, both of his daughters became Duchesses of Lorraine by marriage. He was a brother-in-law of Henry IV of France.

History and Family

He was the son of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, and Claude of Valois, daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. His paternal grandparents were Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, and Christina of Denmark.

He married, firstly, Catherine de Bourbon, Duchess of Albret, sister of Henry IV of France. The couple were married at the Château de Saint Germain-en-Laye outside Paris on 31 January 1599. The bride was already 40 years of age and the union was merely to secure relations with the House of Bourbon which had previously been rivals with the House of Lorraine.

Catherine died childless in 1604. With no issue from that union, Duke Henri married, secondly, Margherita Gonzaga on 24 April 1606 in Mantua. She was a daughter of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and his wife Eleonora de' Medici (a sister of Marie de' Medici, Henry IV's wife). Margherita's sister Eleonor Gonzaga was a future Holy Roman Empress.

Henri was succeeded by his younger brother as Francis II, Duke of Lorraine.

Issue

• Stillborn daughter (February 1607).
• Nicole of Lorraine (3 October 1608 – 23 February 1657), married her cousin, Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine, by whom she had no issue and from whom she was separated in 1635.
• A daughter (10 February 1611 - 11 February 1611).
• Claude of Lorraine (6 October 1612 – 2 August 1648), married her cousin, Nicholas II, Duke of Lorraine, by whom she had issue before dying in childbirth.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Henry II, Duke of Lorraine

16. René II, Duke of Lorraine               8. Antoine, Duke of Lorraine                       17. Philippa of Guelders               4. Francis I, Duke of Lorraine                             18. Gilbert, Count of Montpensier               9. Renée de Bourbon                       19. Clara Gonzaga               2. Charles III, Duke of Lorraine                                   20. John of Denmark               10. Christian II of Denmark                       21. Christina of Saxony               5. Christina of Denmark                             22. Philip the Fair of Austria               11. Isabella of Austria                       23. Joanna the Mad, Queen of Castile               1. Henri II, Duke of Lorraine                                         24. Charles, Count of Angoulême               12. Francis I of France                       25.Louise of Savoy               6. Henry II of France                             26. Louis XII of France               13. Claude of France                       27. Anne of Brittany               3. Claude of France                                   28. Piero the Unfortunate, Duke of Urbino               14. Lorenzo II de' Medici, Duke of Urbino                       29. Alfonsina Orsini               7. Catherine de' Medici                             30. John III, Count of Auvergne               15. Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne                       31. Jeanne de Bourbon-Vendôme

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 8 November 1563 – 14 May 1608 The Hereditary Prince of Lorraine
• 14 May 1608 – 31 July 1624 His Highness The Duke of Lorraine

External links