René of Châlon

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René of Châlon, Prince of Orange
5 February 1519–15 July 1544
René of Châlon
Place of birth	Breda, Duchy of Brabant
Place of death	Saint-Dizier, France
Allegiance	Habsburg dynasty
Battles/wars	Italian War of 1542

René of Châlon (February 5, 1519 – July 15, 1544), also known as Renatus of Châlon, was a Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre.

He was the only son of Count Henry III of Nassau-Breda and Claudia of Châlon. Her brother, Philibert of Châlon, was the last Prince of Orange from the house of Châlon. When he died in 1530, René inherited the Princedom on condition that he used the name and coat of arms of the Châlon - Orange family. History knows him therefore as René of Châlon instead of "of Nassau-Breda".

René of Châlon married, on 20 August 1540, at Bar-le-Duc with Anna of Lorraine (1522-1568). They had a daughter, Maria, who lived only 3 weeks and was buried in the "Grote Kerk", Breda.

While in the service of Charles V he died during the siege of Saint-Dizier in 1544. The Emperor was at his deathbed. René of Châlon was buried in the Grote Kerk at Breda. In the church of Saint Etienne at Bar-le-Duc is a cenotaph for him.

His cousin William of Nassau-Dillenburg inherited all of René’s lands. This, William I of Orange, (in English better known as William the Silent) became the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau.

Preceded by Philibert of Châlon	Prince of Orange 1530–1544	Succeeded by William of Orange-Nassau
Preceded by Henry III of Nassau-Breda	Baron of Breda 1538–1544	Succeeded by William of Orange-Nassau
Preceded by Antoine de Lalaing, Count of Hoogstraten	Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht 1540–1544	Succeeded by Louis of Praet
Preceded by New creation	Stadtholder of Guelders 1543–1544	Succeeded by Philippe de Lalaing, Count of Hoogstraten

v • d • e Stadtholders of Guelders

Willem van Egmond | Willem van Egmond jr. | Filips van Croy | Willem van Egmond jr. | Adolf III of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein  | Jan V of Nassau-Vianden-Diez | Philip of Burgundy | Floris van Egmond | René of Châlon | Filips van Lalaing | Philip de Montmorency, Count of Hoorn | Karel van Brimeu | Gillis van Berlaymont | John VI of Nassau-Dillenburg | Willem IV van den Bergh | Adolf van Nieuwenaar | Maurice of Nassau | Frederick Henry of Orange | William II of Orange | interregnum | William III of Orange | interregnum | William IV of Orange | William V of Orange

v • d • e Stadtholders of Holland, Zeeland and (from 1528) Utrecht

Hugo van Lannoy | Willem van Lalaing | Gozewijn de Wilde | Jan van Lannoy | Lewis de Bruges | Wolfert VI van Borselen | Joost van Lalaing | Jan III van Egmond | Henry III of Nassau-Breda | Antoon van Lalaing | René of Châlon | Louis of Flanders | Maximilian II of Burgundy | William of Orange | Maximilian of Hennin | Philip of Noircarmes | William of Orange | Adolf van Nieuwenaar (Utrecht only) | Maurice of Nassau | Frederick Henry of Orange | William II of Orange | interregnum | William III of Orange | interregnum | William IV of Orange | William V of Orange