Nicholas Francis, Duke of Lorraine
| Nicholas Francis | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Lorraine | |
 |
|
| Born | 6 December 1609 |
| Died | 25 January 1670 (aged 60) |
| Burial | 4 July 1670 |
| Spouse | Claude Françoise de Lorraine |
| Issue Detail |
Charles V, Duke of Lorraine Anne Marie Thérèse, Abbess of Remiremont |
| House | House of Lorraine |
| Father | Francis II of Lorraine |
| Mother | Christina of Salm |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Nicholas Francis (French: Nicolas François de Lorraine; 6 December 1609 – 25 January 1670), also known as Nicholas II, was briefly Duke of Lorraine and Duke of Bar for a few months in 1634, spanning the time between the abdication of his older brother and his own resignation. He was therefore Duke during the invasion of Lorraine by the French in the Thirty Years War.
Nicholas Francis was the youngest son of Duke Francis II of Lorraine and his wife, Christina of Salm. Born on the feast of Saint Nicholas, he was named in his honour. His sister was Marguerite of Lorraine, the Duchess of Orléans and wife of Gaston, Duke of Orléans.
As it appeared unlikely that he would succeed to the duchy, he was destined for the church. He was made coadjutor bishop of Toul, in spite of his youth, in 1619 and succeeded to the see in 1624, but never actually received any sacred orders. He studied philosophy and theology at the University of Pont-à-Mousson, 1622–1629. He returned to Nancy in June 1629. The thesis he prepared on the sacrament of penance was printed in Holland in 1627 with a dedication to Pope Urban VIII. After his promotion to the cardinalate, he received private lessons from two Jesuit priests.
Nicholas Francis was named abbot in commendam – a lucrative sinecure – of several abbeys and was sent on several embassies by his brother, Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine, and by Louis XIII of France.
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Wikipedia