Frederick IV, Duke of Lorraine

Frederick IV ( _fr. Ferry) (15 April 1282, Gondreville – 23 August 1329 [The date of death differs between sources. Some give April 21 and the year is sometimes cited 1328] , in Paris), called the Fighter, was the duke of Lorraine from 1312 to his death. He was the son and successor of Theobald II and Isabella of Rumigny.

On 18 October 1314, at the Diet of Frankfurt, the prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire failed to elect as successor to Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, either the Habsburg claimant, Frederick the Handsome, the duke of Austria, or the Wittelsbach, Louis IV of Bavaria. By marriage to Elisabeth, daughter of Albert I of Germany, Frederick was the brother-in-law of Frederick the Handsome, called Frederick III of Germany by his supporters, of whom Frederick of Lorraine was one. On 28 September 1322, at the Battle of Mühldorf, both Frederick were captured. This was an opportunity for Charles IV of France to strengthen the Lorrainer ties to France and he quickly procured the duke's release on the promise that Lorraine would not interfere in imperial affairs.

In 1324, he participated in an expedition in Aquitaine against Edward II of England's estates, for Charles IV had built a fortress illegally on Edward's territory and had sent his uncle, Count Charles III of Valois, against the English possessions after Hugh le Despenser and the Younger Despenser imprisoned Isabella of France, Charles IV's daughter and Edward's queen. He took part in the War of Metz in 1325 and 1326. He joined Philip VI of France, Charles of Valois's son, on his succession in 1328 and died in the Battle of Cassel in August.

By his marriage (1304) to Elisabeth of Austria (1285-1352), daughter of Albert I of Austria the Emperor, he had the following issue:

*Rudolph (1320-1346), his successor in Lorraine
*Margaret, married Jean de Chalon, lord of Auberive (d.1350), then Conrad, count of Friburg, and lastly Ulrich (d.1377), lord of Rappoltstein

References

ee also

*Dukes of Lorraine family tree