René of Chalon

Renatus (Fr. René ) of Chalon ( born February 5, 1519 Breda, † July 18, 1544 in Saint Dizier ) was the first prince of Orange from the house of Nassau.

Life

He was the son of Count Henry III. of Nassau -Breda, who ruled the wealthy Nassau possessions in the Netherlands and co-educator who was born in the Habsburg Netherlands, Emperor Charles V was causing its good relationship with the House of Nassau explained. So Henry was charged by the Habsburgs also governor of Holland, Zeeland and Friesland, so already reached a similar position later William the Silent, the son of Henry's brother William the rich.

He was a son of Henry second marriage with Claude from the French noble house of Chalon. Thus the House of Nassau became the reversion of the Principality of Orange in southern France, where at that time Philibert of Chalon, the brother Claude, reigned; the childless Prince sat 1520 Renatus one to his heirs, so that after the death of Philibert's 1530 first- Nassau Prince of Orange was; a title that stood in rank above the Nassau earldom, so it was henceforth customary to designate the house as Orange or Orange-Nassau. Also, the coat of arms and the motto of the Prince of Orange was taken.

1531 Renatus was, as previously Henry III. and William the Rich, by Charles V was added to the Equestrian Order of the Golden Fleece. After the death of Henry III. (1538 ) eventually inherited Renatus also the Dutch possessions and became governor of Holland, Friesland and Zeeland. As sole heir sat Renatus, subject to the approval of the Emperor, his uncle William a. This ruled that William son of William the Silent, if this überträte to Catholicism, Renatus should be ' heritage ( William Rich was a Protestant ).

Family

Renatus married in 1540 Anna of Lorraine ( 1522-1568 ), daughter of Duke Anton II of Lorraine ( 1489-1544 ). With her he had a daughter, Mary, who was born in 1544 but died 3 weeks after birth.

He had an illegitimate son, Palamedes of Chalon († 1600), this married Polyxena von Mansfeld, daughter of Karl von Mansfeld.

Death

Renatus died during the siege of the town of Saint- Dizier by the troops of Emperor Charles V, who could resist for six months. His widow was so saddened by the loss of her young husband, that she mourned the tradition after three years. Finally, they commissioned the sculptor Ligier Richier to twist their loss with the creation of a statue, skeleton, heart raised in his left hand holding a stylized example that love and loyalty act beyond death. Renatus heart remained, according to the customs of that time, the place of his death, while the other remains were transferred to his birthplace, Breda and buried there. The statue of the cherished heart was long regarded as the repository of its own, mummified heart.