Duke of Châtellerault

Duke of Châtellerault
Armorial stone of Regent Arran and Lady Margaret Douglas at Kinneil House (Historic Scotland)
Creation date	1492
First holder	François de Bourbon-Montpensier, 1st Duke of Châtellerault
Last holder	William Alexander Louis Stephen Douglas-Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Châtellerault
Extinction date	1895

Duke of Châtellerault (French: duc de Châtellerault) is a French noble title that has been created several times, originally in the Peerage of France in 1515. It takes its name from Châtellerault, in the Vienne region.

The first title was created for François de Bourbon-Montpensier, a younger son of Gilbert, Comte de Montpensier, who was created Viscount of Châtellerault (Vicomte de Châtellerault) in February 1514. He received the duchy-peerage of Châtellerault in 1515, but was killed the same year, being succeeded by his brother Charles, jure uxoris Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne. This title was confiscated in 1527 after the Duke, who was Constable of France, betrayed the King by allying himself with the Emperor Charles V.

The duchies of Châtellerault and Bourbon were then conferred on Louise of Savoy, the mother of King Francis I, but the latter title became extinct in 1530 when she ceded the territory of the duchy to Louis de Bourbon, Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon and later also Duc de Montpensier. However, the dukedom was again conferred on Louise of Savoy that year, and she retained it until her death in 1532.

The dukedom was next created for Louise's grandson Charles, son of King Francis I, who was created Duke of Orléans, Duke of Châtellerault and Duke of Angoulême in 1544. He died unmarried in 1545, when these titles became extinct.