René of Châlon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 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 was killed 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 |
|
|||||
|
|||||
