René of Châlon

René of Châlon, Prince of Orange 5 February 1519–15 July 1544
René of Châlon Place of birth Breda, Duchy of BrabantPlace of death Saint-Dizier, FranceAllegiance Habsburg dynastyBattles/wars Italian War of 1542

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

He was 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 he 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. This, William I of Orange, (in English better known as William the Silent) became the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau.

Preceded by
Philibert of Châlon Prince of Orange
1530–1544Succeeded by
William of Orange-NassauPreceded by
Henry III of Nassau-Breda Baronof Breda
1538–1544Succeeded by
William of Orange-NassauPreceded by
Antoine de Lalaing, Count of Hoogstraten Stadtholderof Holland, Zeelandand Utrecht
1540–1544Succeeded by
Louis of PraetPreceded by
New creation Stadtholderof Guelders
1543–1544Succeeded by
Philippe de Lalaing, Count of Hoogstraten

v • d • e Stadtholdersof Guelders

Willem van Egmond · Willem van Egmond jr. · Filips van Croy · Willem van Egmond jr. · Adolf III of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein · Jan V of Nassau-Vianden-Diez · Philip of Burgundy · Floris van Egmond · René of Châlon · Filips van Lalaing · Philip de Montmorency, Count of Hoorn · Karel van Brimeu · Gillis van Berlaymont · John VI of Nassau-Dillenburg · Willem IV van den Bergh · Adolf van Nieuwenaar · Maurice of Nassau · Frederick Henry of Orange · William II of Orange · interregnum · William III of Orange · interregnum · William IV of Orange · William V of Orange

v • d • e Stadtholdersof Holland, Zeelandand (from 1528) UtrechtHugo van Lannoy · Willem van Lalaing · Gozewijn de Wilde · Jan van Lannoy · Lewis de Bruges · Wolfert VI van Borselen · Joost van Lalaing · Jan III van Egmond · Henry III of Nassau-Breda · Antoon van Lalaing · René of Châlon · Louis of Flanders · Maximilian II of Burgundy · William of Orange · Maximilian of Hennin · Philip of Noircarmes · William of Orange · Adolf van Nieuwenaar (Utrecht only) · Maurice of Nassau · Frederick Henry of Orange · William II of Orange · interregnum · William III of Orange · interregnum · William IV of Orange · William V of Orange