René II, Duke of Lorraine

René II (May 2 1451, Angers, – December 10 1508, Fains) was Count of Vaudémont from 1470, Duke of Lorraine from 1473, and Duke of Bar from 1483 to 1508. He claimed the crown of the Kingdom of Naples and the County of Provence as the Duke of Calabria 1480–1493 and as King of Naples and Jerusalem 1493–1508. He succeeded his uncle John of Vaudémont as Count of Harcourt and Aumale in 1473, using the first title before 1495 and the second title after. He succeeded as Count of Guise in 1504.

Family

He was the son of Yolande of Lorraine and Frederick, Count of Vaudémont. On his mother's side, he was a grandson of Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine. His father was a member of the Vaudémont family, a junior branch of the Lorraine ducal family, descending from John I, Duke of Lorraine. He was thus both heir-general and heir-male to the Duchy when he succeeded on the death of his cousin Nicholas in 1473.

Related Topics:
Yolande of Lorraine - Frederick, Count of Vaudémont - Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine - John I, Duke of Lorraine - Nicholas - 1473

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His maternal grandfather René I of Anjou died in 1480 his mother succeeded to René's claims as King of Naples and René took the title of Duke of Calabria, as heir apparent.

Related Topics:
René I of Anjou - 1480

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When his mother Yolande of Anjou died in 1483, he succeeded as Duke of Bar, and in her claims to the kingdoms of Naples and Jerusalem.

Related Topics:
Yolande of Anjou - 1483 - Duke of Bar

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He married on September 9, 1471 Jeanne d'Harcourt (d. 1488), Countess of Tancarville, but the marriage was annulled in 1485.

Related Topics:
September 9 - 1471 - 1488 - Tancarville - 1485

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René married Phillipa of Guelders in Orléans on September 1, 1485 and had the following children:

Related Topics:
Phillipa of Guelders - Orléans - September 1 - 1485

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• Charles (b. August 17, 1486, Nancy), d. young
• François (July 5, 1487, Pont-à-Mousson) (died at birth)
• Antoine, Duke of Lorraine (1489–1544)
• Nicholas (April 9, 1493, Nancy), d. young
• Claude, Duke of Guise (1496–1550), first Duke of Guise
• John, Cardinal of Lorraine and Bishop of Metz (1498–1550)
• Louis, Count of Vaudémont (1500–1526)
• Francis, Count of Lambesc (1506–1525)
• Anne (December 19, 1490, Bar-le-Duc – 1491)
• Isabelle (November 2, 1494, Lunéville – bef. 1508)
• Claude and Catherine (twins) (November 24, 1502, Bar-le-Duc), d. young