René of Châlon

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René of Châlon, Prince of Orange
René of Châlon
House	Habsburg dynasty

René of Châlon (5 February 1519 – 15 July 1544), also known as Renatus of Châlon, was a Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre.

He was born in Breda as 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 Henry III 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. Thus, William I of Orange, (in English better known as William the Silent) became the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau.