The Duchy of Lorraine was an independent state for most of the period of time between 843 to 1739. The Duchy, as well as the modern region of Lorraine, was the focus of centuries of dispute between France and Germany.

In the early period, Lorraine was known as Kingdom of Lotharingia, ruled by members of the Carolingian French dynasty. At some time, during the 10th century, Lorraine was divided in Upper and Lower region. The Dukes of Lower Lorraine abandoned this style in favour of Duke of Brabant. The Upper Lorraine part was known simply as Lorraine and its rulers are listed below.

The House of Guise, who played an important role in the Wars of Religion of the 16th century is a junior branch of the House of Lorraine.

In the 17th century, the French kings began to covet Lorraine, which lay between France proper and its possessions in Alsace. Lorraine, after siding with the Emperor in the Thirty Years War, was largely occupied by the French in 1641. In 1670, the French invaded again, forcing Duke Charles III to flee to a Viennese exile. The French continued to occupy Lorraine for almost thirty years, only giving it up to Charles's heir by the Treaty of Ryswick which ended the Nine Years War in 1697. The Duchy was again occupied during the War of the Spanish Succession, although Duke Leopold Joseph continued to reign. Leopold's son and successor, Francis Stephen, was forced to give up the Duchy in 1737, after the War of the Polish Succession, in exchange for the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Francis Stephen was betrother to Archduchess Maria Theresa, daughter and heir to Charles VI, and the French would only approve the marriage if Francis gave up his rights to Lorraine. Francis and Maria Theresa's marriage resulted in the House of Habsburg-Lorraine . Replacing Francis Stephen in Lunéville was the last Duke of Lorraine, Stanislaus Leszczynski, former king of Poland, Louis's son-in-law, with the understanding that it would revert to the French crown upon his death. With Stanislas's death in 1766, the long independent history of the Duchy of Lorraine came to an end, and the Duchy was annexed to France.

Kings of Lotharingia

• Lothar I (r. 843-855), also Holy Roman Emperor and King of Italy and Bavaria
• Lothar II (r. 855 – 869)

Dukes of Lorraine

First rulers

• Reginald I (r. 900-911) styled Duke of Lotharingia
• Giselbert (r. 924 – 939) styled Duke of Lotharingia
• Henry I (r. 939 – 944)
• Conrad, the Red (r. 944 – 953)
• Bruno (r. 953 – 959), also Archbishop of Köln
• Friedrich I (r. 959 – 978)
• Thierry I (r. 978 – 1027)
• Friedrich II (r. 1027 – 1033)
• Gothelo, the Great (r. 1033 – 1044)
• Godfrey, the Bearded (r. 1044 – 1046)

House of Ardennes (Metz)

• Adalbert (r. 1047 – 1048)
• Gerhard of Metz (r. 1048 – 1070)
• Thierry II (r. 1070 – 1115)
• Simon I (r. 1115 – 1138)
• Matthias I (r. 1138 – 1176)
• Simon II (r. 1176 – 1205)
• Frederick I (r. 1205 – 1206)
• Frederick II (r. 1206 – 1213)
• Theobald I (r. 1213 – 1220)
• Matthias II (r. 1220 – 1251)
• Frederick III (r. 1251 – 1302)
• Theobald II (r. 1302 – 1312)
• Frederick IV (r. 1302 – 1329)
• Rudolph (r. 1329 – 1346)
• John I (r. 1346 – 1390)
• Charles I (r. 1390 – 1431)
• Isabella (r. 1431 – 1453)
  • with her husband René, Duke of Anjou and King of Naples

House of Anjou

• John II of Anjou (r. 1453 – 1470), also King of Naples
• Nicholas I of Anjou (r. 1470 – 1473)

House of Vaudemont

Junior branch of the previous rulers of Ardennes-Metz

• René II (r. 1473 – 1508), also Duke of Bar
• Antoine, the Good (r. 1508 – 1544)
• Francis I (r. 1544 – 1545)
• Charles II (r. 1545 – 1608)
• Henry I, the Good (r. 1608 – 1624)
• Francis II (r. 1624)
• Charles III (r. 1624 – 1634)
• Nicholas II (r. 1634 – 1661)
• Charles III (r. 1661 - 1669)
  • From 1669 to 1697, Lorraine is under French control. Titular Dukes:
    • Charles III 1669-1675
    • Charles IV 1675-1690
    • Leopold Joseph 1690-1697
• Leopold Joseph (r. 1697 – 1729)
• Francis III Stephen (r. 1729 – 1737) in 1745 he became Holy Roman Emperor

House of Leszczyński

• Stanislaus Leszczyński (r. 1737 – 1766) former king of Poland
  • after him, the Duchy is inherited by his son in law, king Louis XV of France and incorporated in his dominions

See also

• Lorraine – Dukes of Lorraine family tree
• Duchy of Guise

External links

• Genealogy of the Dukes of Lorraine