The kings and dukes of Lorraine have held different posts under different governments over different regions, since its creation as the kingdom of Lotharingia by the Treaty of Prüm, in 855. The first rulers of the newly established region were kings of the Franks. The Latin construction "Lotharingia" evolved over time into "Lorraine" in French, "Lotharingen" in Dutch and "Lothringen" in German. After the Carolingian kingdom was absorbed into its neighbouring realms in the late ninth century, dukes were appointed over the territory. In the mid-tenth century, the duchy was divided into Lower Lorraine and Upper Lorraine, the first evolving into the historical Low Countries, the second became known as the Duchy of Lorraine and existed well into the modern era.
Kings of Lotharingia Lothair II (855–869)
Charles the Bald claimed Lotharingia on Lothair's death and was crowned king in Metz, but his brother Louis the German opposed his claim and in 870 the Treaty of Mersen divided Lotharingia between the two brothers and subsequently their sons. In 880, the Treaty of Ribemont gave the whole of Lotharingia to Louis the Younger, son of Louis the German.
Between 869-895 the title King or Duke of Lotharingia did not exist. The territory was ruled by the king of West Francia (869-870), kings of West Francia and East Francia (870-876), kings of West Francia and Saxony (876-880), king of Saxony (880-882), and finally King of East Francia (882-895).
Between 869 and 895 the region was ruled as follows: Charles the Bald (869–870), king of West Francia and Italy, and Carolingian emperor Louis the German, king of East Francia and Charles the Bald, king of West Francia (870- 876) Louis the Younger, king of Saxony and Charles the Bald (876-877), king of West Francia Louis the Younger, king of Saxony and Louis III of France (877-880), king of West Francia Louis the Younger (880–882), king of Saxony and Bavaria Charles the Fat (882–887), king of East Francia, Italy, and West Francia and Carolingian emperor Arnulf of Carinthia (887–895), king of East Francia and Italy, and Carolingian emperor
In 895 the title of king of Lotharingia was reestablished under: Zwentibold (895–900), King of Lorraine
After Zwentibold was defeated and killed in battle by Count Reginar, the rule reverted to a duchy under the king of East Francia and in 911 under West Francia. Louis the Child (900–911), king of East Francia and Gebhard, Duke of Lorraine(903-910) Charles the Simple (911–923), king of West Francia and Reginar, Duke of Lorraine (910-915) and subsequently his son Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine (915-939).
In 925, Lotharingia was again subsumed into East Francia under Henry the Fowler, King of Saxony and King of East Francia.
List of dukes of Lorraine from 925 to 959 under kings of East Francia is as follows: Gilbert (915–939) Henry (939–940) Otto (942–944) Conrad (944–953) Bruno, Archbishop of Cologne (953–965)
In 959, Lorraine was divided into two districts, Lower and Upper Lorraine, each governed by a margrave, under Bruno. Upon Bruno's death in 965, these two margraves were recognised as dukes of Lower and Upper Lorraine, respectively. The two duchies remained separate, following separate pathways, except for the period between 1033 and 1044.
Dukes of Lower Lorraine Note that the numbering of the dukes varies between sources. Matfriding dynasty Godfrey I (959–964) Richer I (964-972) After the death of Richer, the duchy was directly administrated by the holy emperor until the arrival of Charles I
Carolingian dynasty Charles I (977–991) Otto I (991–1012) House of Ardennes–Verdun Godfrey II (1012–1023) (also known as Godfrey I) Gothelo I (1023–1044) (also duke of Upper Lorraine) Gothelo II (1044–1046) House of (Ardenne–) Luxembourg Frederick I (1046–1065) House of Ardennes–Verdun Godfrey III the Bearded (1065–1069) (also known as Godfrey II, previously duke of Upper Lorraine) Godfrey IV (1069–1076) (also known as Godfrey III) Salian dynasty Conrad (1076–1087), but he's only two years old when he's given the title, Albert III of Namur will be vice-duke during this time. House of Boulogne (Ardennes–Bouillon) Godfrey V "of Bouillon" (1087–1100) (also known as Godfrey IV), one of the leaders of the First Crusade and the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem House of Limburg Henry I (1101–1106) House of Leuven Godfrey VI (1106–1129) (also known as Godfrey I of Leuven) House of Limburg Waleran (1129–1139) House of Leuven Godfrey VII (1139–1142) (also known as Godfrey II of Leuven) Godfrey VIII (1142–1190) (also known as Godfrey III of Leuven)
Disintegrates. Title passes to the Duke of Brabant, who until 1795 kept the title "Duke of Lothier".
Dukes of Upper Lorraine
House of Ardenne–Bar Frederick I (959–978) Theodoric I (978–1026/1027) Frederick II (1026/1027) Frederick III (1026/1027–1033)
House of Ardenne–Verdun Gothelo (r. 1033–1044) (also duke of Lower Lorraine). Godfrey, the Bearded (r. 1044–1046) (later duke of Lower Lorraine)
House of Metz (Ardenne–Metz) PortraitNameStart termEnd termNoteAdalbert10471048 Gerhard10486 March 1070 Theodoric II6 March 107023 January 1115 Simon I23 January 111513 April 1138 Matthias I13 April 113813 May 1176 Simon II13 May 11761205 Frederick I12057 April 1206 Frederick II7 April 120610 October 1213 Theobald I10 October 121317 February 1220 Matthias II17 February 122024 June 1251 Frederick III24 June 125131 December 1302 Theobald II31 December 130213 May 1312 Frederick IV13 May 131223 August 1328 Raoul23 August 132826 August 1346killed at the Battle of CrécyJohn I26 August 134627 September 1390 Charles II27 September 139025 January 1431 Isabella25 January 143128 February 1453with her husband, René I
House of Anjou NamePortraitBirthMarriagesDeath René25 January 1431 – 28 February 1453 16 January 1409Château d'Angersson of Louis II of Anjou and Yolande of Aragon (1) Isabella1420ten children(2) Jeanne de Laval10 September 1454no issue 10 July 1480Aix-en-Provenceaged 71 John II28 February 1453 – 16 December 1470 2 August 1424Nancyson of René and Isabella Marie de Bourbon1444five children 16 December 1470Barcelonaaged 46 Nicholas I16 December 1470 – 24 July 1473 1448Nancyson of John II and Marie de Bourbon never married 24 July 1473Nancyaged 22
House of Lorraine
Junior branch of the previous rulers of Ardennes–Metz, known as the House of Lorraine.
PortraitNameStart termEnd termNote René II 24 July 1473 10 December 1508 Grandson of René I and Isabella, and male-line descendant of John I; also Duke of BarAntoine10 December 150814 June 1544 Francis I14 June 154412 June 1545 Charles III 12 June 1545 14 May 1608 Henry II 14 May 1608 31 July 1624 Nicole 31 July 1624 25 November 1625 She was the daughter of Henry II; the Estates of Lorraine eventually decided that she was not eligible to reign, and gave the crown to her uncle, Francis II; her husband and first cousin, Charles IV, would reign thereafter Francis II 25 November 1625 1 December 1625 He immediately abdicated in favour of his son, Charles IV; died 1632 Charles IV 1 December 1625 19 January 1634 Abdicated in favour of his brother Nicholas II 19 January 1634 1 April 1634 Fled into exile and abdicated in favour of his older brother; the duchy remained under effective French control for the next 27 years Charles IV 1 April 1634 18 September 1675 Nominally restored as a result of his brother's abdication, Lorraine was occupied by France, and the Duke in exile, from 1634 to 1661 and again from 1670 until his death Charles V Leopold 18 September 1675 18 April 1690 He was in exile and Lorraine was occupied by France throughout his nominal reign Leopold 18 April 1690 27 March 1729 He was in exile and Lorraine was occupied by France until 30 October 1697, when it was returned to Léopold Joseph; it was again occupied by France from 1702 to 1714, although the duke remained in place Francis III Stephen 27 March 17299 July 1737 Traded Lorraine in exchange for the Grand Duchy of Tuscany; elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1745; died 1765, husband of Empress Maria Theresa
House of Leszczyński PortraitNameStart termEnd termNoteStanisław I9 July 173723 February 1766Former king of Poland. After him, the Duchy is inherited by his son-in-law, King Louis XV of France, and incorporated in his dominions
The House of Habsburg-Lorraine continued carrying the title as titular Dukes of Lorraine.
See also Lorraine (duchy) Lorraine (province) Lorraine (region)
External links Titles of the dukes of Lorraine from contemporary documents with bibliography
Further reading Putnam, Ruth. Alsace and Lorraine: From Cæsar to Kaiser, 58 B.C.-1871 A.D. New York: 1915.