Louise of Lorraine (French: Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont) (30 April 1553 – 29 January 1601) was a member of the House of Lorraine who became Queen consort of France from 1575 until 1589. Born in Nomeny in the Duchy of Bar, she was the daughter of Nicholas, Duke of Mercœur, and Margaret of Egmont.

Her mother died whilst she was a baby and she was brought up by her father and step-mother. Her childhood was unhappy; unloved by her father and stepmother, Catherine de Lorraine-Aumale, she was expected to keep out of the way of her family. This upbringing would result in her being quiet and dutiful as an adult. She was also very pious.

She first caught the eye of her future husband, Henry, Duke of Anjou, in 1574. Recently elected King of Poland, he was paying a visit to her cousin, the Duke of Lorraine (married to Henry's sister, Claude) on his way to his new kingdom, and caught sight of Louise whilst he was there. Henry was attracted to Louise, who was not only attractive, and sweet-natured, but who also resembled the Princess of Condé, Marie de Clèves, with whom Henry III was infatuated. He remembered Louise long after he left France.

Upon the death of Charles IX of France, and Henry's accession as Henry III, Louise was not initially considered to be a candidate for Queen – Henry intended to procure Marie a divorce from her husband and marry her himself. Marie died of a lung infection, however, and after a period of deep mourning, Henry III decided – against the advice of his mother and his councillors – to marry Louise, sending his councillor and alleged lover, Cheverney, to inform the girl and her family, who responded to the news by bowing and curtsying to her with embarrassment. Louise herself was on a pilgrimage to Saint-Nicolas-de-Port at the time, and was much surprised when she received the news from her family at her return. The match was a general surprise, as Louise was not considered to have high enough status to be queen.

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